Foreword In 1997 it was time to print a new batch of my first book, How b Play Me King ‘sIndian Atback (published in 993), fora new generation ofKlA fans. However, new ideas in some variations and recent developments in others cd instead to 77w Ulritnare King s Indian Attack, which is an expanded, revised edition ofihe original. An appreciation of the relevant plans in flic opening and middlegame and even the ending in some cases is more important than learning countless. precise sequences of moves (wbich are susceptible 1° both fashion and ullimale reft.Iaùon), and this book is designed to equip the reader with a thorough understanding ofihe KIA. Moreover, t is significani that the koy strategies tend b be the same in both the modem and Ihe enlier games, confirming the KIA as a sound. reliable and effective weapon which continues 10 pass Ihe test oftime. I hope thai new recruils 10 the KIA enjoy this rich sysiem, and that seasoned devotees find food for thought in the new material and updates which, combined with the onginal examples. should provide the reader with a flexible, varied repertoire with the white pieces, Angus Dunninglon November 1998
!ntn,duction 7 1 Introduction Nowadays ii s becoming increasingly diflicuit al any level oC competitive drnss to find opponents who know utile or —even more rare no openîng theory. Practitioners of I d4 need le 1w acquainted with detènces such as 11w Kings Indian, Grunfeld, Dulch, Benoni, Nimzo-Indian... Similarly, I e4 players wilI have problems reaching a satisfac*oiy rniddlegame if Ihoy fail 10 familiarse lhemselves with. amongst others, the popular Sicilian, French and Caro-Kann Defences. Moreover, each of Ihese s ofien die opponents pet une. Since eve,i masters can iake many monlhs (perhaps years) studyîng the numerous variations o1 for example, the Sicilian Defence, t seems logical 10 find an opening sysleni for White which enables us In sh down at 11w board before baIlle commences wilhout liaving to worry about whal Black may play. Ehis hook deals with arguably the Inosi flexible of such systems: the King’s Indian Artack (KIA). The beauy oC the opening s Ihat White adopis the selup based on tîff3. g3. ig2, d3 and e4 praccically regardless ol Blacks play. (sec diugzm) When playing the (lA IFie game wiil follow s course of White’s choosing which should in Iurn furnish olber advaniages in Ihe fonii oC extra lime on the dock and • ready-made’ understanding oC die posîtional and tactical nuances which the conslraînts ofa lime-limit may prevent ihe opponent from gelting to grips with. Apart from beginning wilh I 13 or I g3 (or even I d3), die KIA s also a powerful weapon in t1w hands of I e4 players. Therefore fans of I e4 openings such as the Ruy Lopez or Scotch need no longer wasle their lime learning separale unes againsl Blacks olher defences, as Ihis system s playable against ail of them, Oie only exception being I which mies ouI the KIA altogether. We must aiso not forget the psychological victory of depriving mir opponenls the opportunily 10 show us their encyclopaedic Iheoreticai knowledge of, say. the Caro-Kann when we reply 10 I e4 cô with 2 d3 and spoil the party immediately (Chapter 4), Those who play the King’s Indian Defence against I d4 are strongly advised 10 take up Ihe same opening when piayîng White. if il s good with Black, then it must 1w even better with White’ Chapler 7 shows
X Int, ojuc non us that Ihe first player can pu! the exira tempo 10 good eftect Before moving on to a deeper discussion of the varlous aspects of the KIA and Blacks mosl popular ways of meeting here are three games which should give the reader an idea of the different palbs play might go dowo in this multi-purpose Open iTlg White’s Kingsidc Attack As ils name suggesis, the KIA regularly brings about middlegame positions in which White generates a kingside strike A bloodthirsly and illustrative example of tIns ‘sthe following game Bobby Fischer, the former World Champion, frequenlly used ihe KIA wilh success and here s wha eau happen il Black plays the French Defence and subsequenlly takes up While s challenge of kingsude vs queenside allack B Flscher-U.Geller Netcstrycs 1968 I e4 eô 2 d3 dS 3 Cd2 (D) Black bas a nuinber of ways to Iry nid creale play [rom Ihe diagram position One S 10 go for an ail OUI atlack on the qucenside in order to counle, White’s aggression on 111e other flank, as Black chooses here This produces very brutal play from both sides Readers are advised 10 follow the way in which While con- duels bis attack, as very sim,lar ideas are used against olber Black patterus of developmenl in the French, namely the very popular b7-b6 and ics-b7, or S ifs-d6 and Cg8-e7 It s also possible for Black £0 cx- change in the centre wilh d5xe4 al certain stages. although tIns does n°1 tend *0 cul across White’s plans (Sec Chapter 3) 3...c5 4 g3 Cf6 5 igz .e7 6 ego o-o 7 0-0 Ccô 8 tI *c7 9 eS d7 10 e2 (D) B A recuning (berne in Ibis particular vanalion —Black charges forward on hie qucenside and White endeavours ro put as much force as possible into an aiIack against the opposing king II aS 12 1IMI Intending Cfl -h2-g4, or in some cases tàfl -e3 with sacrificial 141***42 liii •Si1114 : Control 0f eS ‘scritical 10 b5 II 1,4
Introduction 9 possibdities on d5 (or ±3)especlallY when Black bas played ‘$dS-c7Il An interesling move which bo*h prevents a tulure QfI -e3 and opens the c-file tor Blacks major pieces Note thal Wh,te must capture the knighl as Ihe e-pawn s lost after 13 9d1 (not 13 ie3 xc2) 13 exflt 14 .axf3 exes (15 .f4 t2xt3*) 13 tZixd4 cxd4 14 i14 While s queen’s always finds itself positions 14 aa6 15 Fempting but inaccurate was 15 ixd5°’ (w,th the idea of 15 exd5 lé cé) Afler 5 .b4’ White would be forced ‘oplay the passive 16 ebI with equalily since both 16 ecI” exd5 Il e6 axe6’ 18 *xe6’m’x14’ 19*xd7txcl and 16 edI exd5 17 e6 xe6 18 *xe6 xt4 19 ‘xd7*13’ 20 eh2 *xdl’ win for Black 15 c6 16 aacl ia6? Threaiening to triple on the c-file, but imperative was 16 even t ‘Iwould slow down Blacks btnld-up 17 kxds! (D) Fischer secs thal this typical ‘sacrifice’does mdccii work this lime li exds While a)so siands clearly beiter afler 17 Zc5 18 .e4’ c8 (nol 18 ‘Çxe5’19 ..xe5 xe5 20 ixh7t) 19 f3, hitting the d-pawn 18 e6 *d8 Now 8 xe6 s pointless as Whtle’s queen is defended 19 exd7 e6 20 *g4! Cleverly keeping the Initiative Now 20 Éxd7 21 .L.e5’ takes advantage ofihe pin Black put himself in cg 21 f622 ixd4 or2l .f6 22 Consequently Black musi weaken bis krngside in order to take Whde’s advanced d-pawn 20 21 22 Black hole at weak 22 23 24 25 ies!! There was another way 10 en- bore with the nalural 25 e1 yet Black couhd draw by 25 *xclt” 26 xeI kg7’ 27 é’g5 if6 etc bishop almosi on f4 in such (5 *h5 tid7 f3 s 20 f5 has leu a gaping eS [lis d4- pawn s also *h6 e6 g6 *xe6(D) B
ID Inti î, di, tu, n lnslead Whfle eliminates Blacks king’s bishop. (bus gaining total command of Ihe dark squares Even after 25 moves il ‘sWhite’s control of the important eS-square which decides matters, this over-proleclion of 05 is an essenlial of such positions 25 ixeS 26 cI (4 27 e5 I’d7 Black must avoid 27 *g4 28 e7 f7 29 xf7 xf7 30 e5+ 28 hS! Now 28 gxh5 oses to 29 g5* 28 fxg3 (D) 29 hxg6!! gxt2 Against 29 xf3 Wliite bas 30 re8.i éxeS 31 *x57+ ‘K32 g71- e7 31 g8+ 30 xf2 hxgô 31 txg6+ *g7 32 ags! And Black resigned without waitng for eilher 33 *h5 or 33 *1* Incidenially t s ironic (bat aller 32 *xg6 33 rxg6+ picks up the bishop winch was the cause of Blacks problems on move 6 (and winch nover moved again’) Qaeensidc Expansion Not surprisingly WI’,ite wiIl flot aiways have the pleasure of delivering mate afier a cnishing kingside atiack as some Black systems encourage Ibe firsi player b concen(rate on seizing an initiative in die centre or on die queenside rnslead In our nexi game, Croatian GM Cvitan, a former Luropean Junior Champion, faces the KIA and finds himself under pressure on the queenside I-le therefore turns (o Ihe kingside for counterplay, but we see (bat White is equally weII-placed to detend as well as anack in tins parlicujar secbor Stelnert-Cvitan SwtzerIand 1992 I M3 eS Inviting a transposition to a Sicillan Defence While does evenlually oblige, but ‘nbis own time and under bis own conditions, such ‘sthe flexibility ot tins system 2 3 ec6 3 kg2 4 0-0 g6 1g7 d6 H, ïtÀ.À ra z f4 S e4 6 c3(Dft B
Introduction Ii This ‘sa common niove in Siciljan p051110fl5 Establishing a pawn on c14 would granl White a cons,derabk space advantage, so ‘norder ‘oprevent this I3lack ‘sprovoked mb playing bis ocx? move 6 eS Black takes his share of central tetTIIOlY ‘nretufli for inhibibing his usually influenhal king’s bishop White s now weIl placed te profit tiom ihe closing ot the al-hS diagonal and he prepares to expand on ilie qucenside with the b2-b4 push —highlightiflg another point behmnd 6 c3 7 dS ge7 S a3 Black bas a ehoice here of ejiher allowing Wh,te (o carry through his plan or putting a stop 10 il with 8 aS White meets 8 aS with 9 a4’ alter wh,ch Ihe Iosi tempo ‘sgood investmenl because Black has boit on b5 wh,ch Wh,te will use fora knight outpost. usually in conjunclion with t3-d2-ç4 Since this S nO? b Blacks laste he elects to contrnuc bis developmeni inslead 8 0-0 O M 1.6 Preparing içS-eé. which White would otherwise counter with t?t3gS 10 bd2 .e6 Il fi b6 12 ib2 b5!? If Black continues pass,vely Whije w,ll s’mply play to open up the game w,th d2-b3 ami d3-d4. perhaps temporarily sacrificing bis d-pawn il necess,y Consequently C’ ‘(anessays 10 engincer 50mo play le distraci bis opponeni 13 el a5 14 a4! Guaranteeing that a white pawn wili reach b5 and subsequently force Black (o tread carefully on the queenside 14 cxb4 15 axh5 ea7 15 bxc3 16 .axc3 tollowed by ‘éd-a4 flot onl>’ leaves Ihe black a-pawn susceptible 10 attack but also allows White’s queens rook to support bis passed b-pawn 16 c4 gS Black sir,ves 10 build up pressure on ihe olher flank 17 4ZfI ileading lor e3, from where the knighi can observe both d5 and f5 li acS 18 sIt Note that Blacks osensibly dangerous a- and b-pawns cannot advance Black first lias 10 defend M before lie can push with o4. and beC3USC of White’s strong grip on the light squares on the queenside this s by no mneans easy b organise 18 ‘g619 23e3 €ce7 Blacks only hope s to build up kingside attack and throw everybhmg al bis opponeni before White decisively increases bis queenside advantage 20 €d2 a7 2f aI (D) B
/1 In!, ,,d,,c /ion ri * X*Pd Now die b-pawn is al last ready *0 match for promotion • nai A token Ibreai of liS-1,4 before 36 cS+ ‘hSf4 * resigiling 37 c6 I-O The Sicilian Defence s deali with s in Chapter 2 Positions) Themes Having scen Whute firsi mount a 1 hreatening a l-a4 Iollowed by iormidable kingside attack, then disd2-b3 Black acts quickly play resilience on Ibis side of the 21 ‘tf4board while simoltaneously building 22 ifl up a winning advantage on the Cairn play from White as 22 gxf4 qocenside. here s a game in which ext4 23 c2 ..xal 24 xal a4 White not oniy controls bath wlngs plays mb Black’s hands bol also places bis queen on a domi22 15 nating central square 23 exf5 tjhfs This lime Black mets the KIA 24 Qjxfs jf5 wilh a reliable, positionally-onen25 gxf4 taied method of developmenl which Wh,tc cannol permil die invading 15 pertectly soited b English superknighi ‘oreinain n the heari of bis GM Michael Adams’s style posilioii lot 100 long so lie pois die (Chapler 5) However even Adams onus on Black 1° justity the bas problems finding o plan sacrifice 25 ef4 Vaganlami-Adams 26 a2 g4 Te, Apel 1992 27 ih2 &xb2 2K xb2 *h4 14fl4W62g3d53.tg2c64 29 t?1e4 g7 Q-O S44 (D) Black conhinues energehicaNy by aiming what s lefl of his army al __________________________ hie white king. but While’s faithful 14 *** X KIA bishop s ready b corne 10 die XL 4LÀÀ lescue - 30 g2! dAi 4 1 3) iCI a4 frying b confuse White Ignores W - • p ibe diveisionaiy haches and consolidates bis kingside Vj4 j 32 g3 b3 33 ei .ad7 34 *xa4 hS _________ 3$ ‘xb3
Introduction I? A solid system winch immediatey solves Blacks problem of where to put the queens bishop oflen a pioblein piece (a similar solulion 15 to play ..f5 which s discussed in Chapter 6) Black can play for cl-eS or settle for e7-e6. aiihough in either case the quiet nature of Black’s development allows White to obtain a slight but persistent advanlage 5 d3 bd7 6 ebd2 eS 7 e4 dxe4 8 dxe4 9 a4 0-0 9 aS ‘san alternative worth consideration. when the potential weaknesses of Blacks a-pawn and the bfrsquare may prove b be essor evils than the prospect ot permitting White 10 advance with a4-a5 10 h3 h5 There s no reason why Black should voluntarily give up the Iwo bishops Il aS!? I he tirsi step in a scherne designed to restriet Blacks possibihues on both sides ol (ho board Iying bis opponent down in this way wilI inake t casier for Whiie to embark upon active operations in the middlegame II 4c7 £2 *e2 1,5 Denying White the use of the ef[ective c4-square 13 e63 S.e7 14 g4 Uhe [urne bas corne 10 take o kingsde initiative hoprng ‘oclose the qucens bishop ont ofthe game The price Wl,ule pays s Hie production of o weakness on f4 but her is comPeiisaled for Ibis by an oulpost himseit on 15 15 ‘th4tècs 16 ‘f5Qie6 Nol 16 xb3” I? cxb3 when the open c-file provides White with firing une against Blacks c-pawn Moreover Biack’s queen’s knight bas been given the assignrnent of keeping watch over f4 17 ie3 ab8(D) w £8 c4 Now afler 18 bxc4 19 *xc4 the pressure against both a7 and c6 guarantees White a considerable advantage Incidenially, exchangrng bis admittedly passive bishop for the irksome knight s flot to 6e rocon ’rnended8 .xf5 19 exfS and While’s I,ghi-squared bishop cornes 10 lite 18 1e8 Preparing (o drop hie bishop back tom 19 1c1 1,4 The unpleasant Ihreat of opening the c-file causes Black 10 close the queenside Now Adanis bas (ho positional threat ot c6-c5 followed by €e6-d4 20 eS S8 21 Wc4 White adds support (o d4 and oc cupies Hie a2-g8 diagonal Ht also introduces the option of attacking ihe stranded enerny b-pawn i•’XtP% •ÀSS4*1 1ÂPj4 Àt • 14 g6
14 huroduclion 21 ... :eda 22 edI hS With no hope of play in any sec- (or of the board Black anempas ‘oundermine White’s hold on hie kingside. 23 gS (D) 23 ... ed5 The obvious alternative is to retreat tue atbcked knight but 23...eh7 24 h4 ehxg5 25 xg6 loses material due w 25,,.fxg6 26 1xg5 This leads to 23..,teS 24 €31,4 (threatening 25 €xg6 fxg6 26 txe6+) 24...*e7 wîth a miserable position (is 24.,.h7 25 ‘2xg6xg6 possible?). Adams therefore goes for complications. Vaganian’s las: move look away 011e of bis knight’s supporters, which Black hopes (o profit from. 24 exd5! cxd5 25 id5 xd5 Bener is 25...ixf5 with a good game for Whiie thanks ce bis dangerous queenside superiority. Now Vaganian has ready a surprisingly strong move which nets him —at (lus level a decisive advantage. 26 €3h4! (D) Underlining Ihe significance of 22...h5, Afier 26..idd8 27 xg6 White will have two pieces for rook, a mighty passed c-pawn and domination of the light squares. Again Adams tries b throw bis opponent off balance. 26 27 xcS 28 exg6 Or 28...lxe3 29 àxc7 e7+ f8 SI Qk6L 29 ticS 30 tdS 31 kidS 32 d1! Move Order The reader is by now no doubi aware by now that t is a maner of taste which way Whice begins the KIA —either I ‘2Dor I M, depending on what other openings one feels comfortable (or uncomfortable) playing. Whichever the choice, transpositional possibilities abound. This s particularly evident with the French and Sicilian Defences, and indeed many of the games which begin in one of these may well cross over mb 11w other. Consequently, Sicilian games n which Black plays an carly ,,,d7-dS are very closely Iinked ‘othose in the French in which Black advances with ...c7-c5. B :xcs tics tdé xc7 30 *xds ZdS l-0
KM vs Skîlian Defence 15 2 MA vs Sicilian Defence Nol unlike the main une ofihe Sicilian Defence, Black bas several conhinuations, depending on where he cl- and e-pawns go. Regardless of ihe chosen pawn structure Black should posI bis king’s bishop acaively by way oC a fianchetto. fle mosi economical course is ...d7-d6 and ...‘g8-m,. waiting for White’s reacion before deciding whether or nol b daim more Ierritory with ...e7-eS. Whhe s ready b mee ambitious..,t7-f5 with equally vigorous play, but because of the extra tempo die albeit obvious M3-el and 12-f4 could give Black problems. Another idea for White is (o cxpand on the qucenside, keeping B’ack lied down in order ‘othreaten an advanlageous breakthrough in the centre. A spave advaruage on the queensidc should also be enough to give White the beller prospects in queerilcss middlegame if Black seeks a queen (rade by opening he d-file with ...d7-dS and .,,d5xe4, as n the game Loginov-Madl. Some players prefer to develop ‘htking’s knigh on e7 afier ...e7-e6 when ii can suppoil the quecns lcnighl and give (lie g7-bishop more freedom 1° facililate (lie .. e5 push. Blacks oher main aproach ‘s(o combine .e7-e6 and ...€g8-e7 wilh .47-dz, This s similar o the French Defence and appears to be a popular choice. li is difficult to see w)»’, however, because White bas a distinct advantage which can easily assume more sizeable proportions. Exchanging on dS gives Whilc an initiative, whule closing the centre wirh e4-eS resuils in a position n which Whi(e bas excellent kingside attacking chances. A noie on move order. The faci Ihai Ihe tirsl rwo games begin wih I CD helps show that we can reach Sicilian without opening I e4. Also, afler I e4 c5 White dots n°1 have to play 2 d3, but van instead play 2 Çf3 and 3 d3. This bas die advantage of perhaps commilling Black 10 2,,,e6 or 2...d6. Finally, I e4 c5 2 g3 d5 prevents White from adopting a KM setup. Flanchetto wlth ...d6 Smyslov-Hotvinnik USSE Cl, (955 i Cn 43(6 2 g3 g6 3 ig2 kg? 4 O-O O-O S d3 eS 6 e4 Although we have reached a SieDian Defence, Black could still
16 PJA ç S,c,lusn Defence transpose ‘oa ICing’s Indian Reversed with d7-d5 cuber here or on ihe next move 6 €c6 7 tbd2 d6(D) w Black develops naturally, for the moment settiing for an e7-d6-cS pawri tormation Oflen e7-e5 s played, either voluntarily or otherwise, depending on how badly Wbite wants 10 build a powerful pawn centre wtth c2-c3 and d3-d4 Ibis idea s considered in more de- ail n ‘lienext game 8 a4 White gains space on die queenside and prepares 4t4 tihe mmcdiale S ‘Sc4invites the obvious and effectiveS bSI) 8 c3 transposes ro BarczayForintos. flungary l968, when White countered queenside expansion with a central advance S bs 9 a4 a6 10 *e2 (beller Ihan 10 eI Qg4’, preventing I] d4) 10 b5 Il axb5 axb5 12 d4 with a slight edge to White In the game Larsen-Gligoric, Vinkovci 1971, White dispensed with c2-c3 altogetiier and eaused Black problems on bolli sides of the board by marching bis wing pawns forward The game actually went 7 e1 d6 8 bd2, and alter S b8 9 a4 b6 10 c4 i57 II h4” was a good n’y for initiative There followed Il ‘êc7(lld5l2exd5 xd5I3 h5’) 12 id2 bd8 13 éd d5 14 .&f4’ (before Irading off die darksquared bishops Larsen first forces die enemy queen onto a white square) 14 *cS 15 exd5 3xd5 16 th6 fe8 7 .txg7 i’xg7 18 h5 f6 19 h6+ g8 20 àf4 h5 21 *d2 f6 22 aS’ 55 23 a6’ wiIh a clear advantage (o White H An active retrem Black plans f715 a) Sniyslov-Ivkov. Palma Inter- zonaI 970, saw nstead S bS 9 42c4 tid7 I0t?h4’ a6 Il f4 bS 12 axbs axbs 13 4e3 Qb6 14 f5 c4 I 5 tjg4, when White’s attack looked much more dangerous than Blacks b) Black chose a dubious plan in the game Spraggett - Sunye Neto, Manila 1990 Afler 8 b6 9 t&4 tb7 10 rel acg Il c3 he played I d7 (nffing oui 12 d4 because of 12 cxd4 13 cxd4 exd4’), but 12 e3 ce5 I) xe5 dxe5’ leif Black susceptible w a4-a5 and later ee3-dS 9 4Zc4 €5 Gaining more central terrilory before the f7-f5 thn,st 10 c3 f5 One problem witli Blacks idea s thai t s not difficuit for White to correctly predict the moves Cotisequently Smyslov s ready to nieet this rash —f consistent —pusli Less ambitious but more accurate ‘s10 h6, prepanng Il .e6 II bi! A ciever pawn sacrifice which takes advantage of the opening of die a2-g8 diagonal Declining with I I f4 s 10 be considered, when 12 bxc5 dxc5 13
KIA vs S,cilujn LJefence 17 xf4 exf4 14 ia3 ixc3 15 ixc5 xaI 16 ixf8 favours Wh,te flic allemal1VC 14 b6 seems belle., when 15 d4 ‘sunclear II ... cxb4 12 cxb4 fxe4 Black continues te underestimate White’s ailacking polential Once agaln 12 116 suggesls itself 12 t2xM. however, s punished by 13 tb3 1, threatening both the wayward knight and a deadly discovered check 13 de4 ±e614 eeY Stili offering a pawn in order 1° keep the upper hand 14 #xb4 15 bl (D) B 15 a5 15 a6 gives White a opportuTlit)i to go wrong with 16 xb7’, ailOWing Black to tun, the tables by 16 c5 I? b4 a5 18 bl exe4 IflSteaiJ White homes in on ihe weak light squares n Blacks camp. and can even afford to give away bis aPawn, e g 15 eîa6 16 t1ids’ ec5 17 g5’ .td7 18 ie3 .txa4 19 d2 with threals such as 20 ±xcs(Ollowed by 21 e06, 21 axb7 or 21 a2 (note that 19 *‘d7 fails b 20 Sh3) 16 ia3 ec7 Black improves ihe position of bis king’s knighl. as irying ‘obang 0fb bis extra pawn wtth 16 *b6 allows 17 tZg5 17 .xb4 axb4 18 xb4 ±1.619 b6! White prefers o take Ihe d-pawn Allhough Black can defend along the rank by I 9 a6, White then plays 20 xb7. when ihe oseful manoeuvre c7-a6-c5 s no longer possible because aô s already occupied Black prefers b defend energelically 19 ... kxe3 20 Fxe3 .ac4 21 ad6 1e8 22 eI Capturing Ihe a-pawn w,tb the rook runs mb difficulties because ol (alter 22 xa4) 23 d7 or 23 xe5 However, 22 Éxa4 looks like an improvement on Botvinnik’s chomce Atter 23 xa4 xa4 24 exes White rebains bis advantage mb the ending, bol at leasi Black wiIl flot be subjected to the vicloos onslaughl which follows The crucial fader s Blacks weakened kings.de The long s wilhoul Suffident guard and bis pawn cover leaves something to be desired, making him partmcularly vulnenble on he second rank Hence bis t-wenty•second move 23 thgS e7 24 ifl! Wh.te has 10 sirike while the iron s bol Black ‘snow pressured mb relinquishing bis mIe of the vital a2-gS diagonal, since 24 ±a225 e2 %‘xa4 26 *xa4 xa4 27 xa2 axa2 28 ±c4-I-wmns 24 ±xfl25 xf1
IN KM s Surlia,, Defence Another benefit of exehanging bishops ‘sthe White rook’s renewcd posting on the f-file 25 *xa4(D) w Kicking the knight with 25 h6 allows 26 Zff6 when 26 hxg5 27 xg6* s decisive Afier 27 g7 28 xg7t txg7 29 ad7t is enough 27 h8 28 h6 gS 29 dg6+ g7 30 *h5 and 27 Œ 28 df6+ fl+ 29 ‘Sd6+5e7 30 xfl+ txf7 31 rg74-’ are also winning for White 26 d8+! Now 26 txd8 s not possible because of 27 *xa4, whilst 26 ‘g7Ioses to 27 %‘d6 so Black goes along with Whiies plan 26 e8 27 ‘Sf3!lhreatening 28 *17+ h8 29 xh7 male Black s able 10 parry this but bis position s beyond I epa ‘r27 *c4 28 ad7 I-O There s no way 10 survive 28 f8 29 xc7i *xc7 30 *xf8+ axfg 31 xf84 xfR 32 3e6+ and 33 €xc7 restaUs in a completely won game lot White Loginov-Madl Budapest 1991 I f3 4f6 2 g3 eS 3 ig2 g6 4 O-O Àg7 5 d3 0-0 6 e4 d6 7 Cl ec6 8 ebd2 €5 Black gains space and increases ber influence in the centre, particularly die d4-square Having the knight on f (instead ofe7) does inhihil die push oC die f-pawn. but as we saw in die previous game lIais course of action can sometimes rebound on Black Another plan Is to play d6-d5 al some point, aller which White no longer bas die option ofreplying e4-e5 9 s) Although 8 eS rules out 9 d4 from White, il diminishes the power of Blacks dark-squared bishop, so now White can lake advantage of this by making use of ihe fact Ihai 7 c3 also adds support 10 M 9 e1 would transpose ‘oYudasinMascannas, Manila Interzonal 990, when aller 9 ZeX White, loo, chose queenside action with 10 a3 There followed 10 b5 (intending li b4a5’) li a4b4 12t2k4b8 13 h3 bxc3 14 bxc3 d5 15 exd5 xd5 16 f’c2 with an edge for Whiie due ‘ohis well-placed qucens knighi and potential pressure againsi die Iwo opposing centre pawns Black went for complications 16 €xc3i9 17 ib2 mot 17 xc3 e4) 7 e4 8 dxe4 d4 19 tèxd4 cxd4 20 .axc3 dxc3 21 adl, with an unclear position wInch turned oui In White’s favour a dozen moves later Madi elecls ‘oignore White’s queenside aspirations, breaking oui in the centre in an aliempi 10 secure equality by exchangrng queens 9 dS r 4* /4 iï P4
KIA vs Sicilian Defence 19 in M Waitlng for Black to show her hand While would be lefi with wealc pawns on c3 and â) afler 10 exd5’1 exds, which also frees Blaçk’S position unnecessarily in dx il dxe4 td3 AppareflhlY winning a pawn but While bas seen a aile further 12 ..b2 (D) B 12 Zxe4 13 @xe4 *xe4 14 4Ed4! Whne regains bis pawn by unleashing his king’s bishop 14 *g4 15 ‘Tjxc6bxcô Not 15 *xdl” l6te7+ lb zc6 17 el *xdl 18 axdI (D) B Black bas a couple of vuinerable points on a7 and cS which leave ber struggling for a draw At Ibe n,oment White cannot make the capture b4xc5 because of the pin or, the b-file However. White should be able ‘obu,ld up enough pressure on the c-pawn b force c5xb4, when the reply axb4 will allow hou ‘oaitack the a-pawn along both Ihe r file and the gl-a7 diagonal The immediate threal, then, s 19 d5, so Black temporarily prevenis this while simul(aneously clearing Ihe way for a rook to corne (o the c-file *8 1e6 19 &dS ixdS 20 xd5 ries Mainiaining the pin on the b-file and ihus preserving bis c-pawn 21 fle2 b7 While lias rendered ihe pin useless by defending his brnhop. but t s stiil flot possible for him 1° w,n pawn because of 22 ZxcS rxcs 23 bxcs c7 Also 22 icI cxb4 23 axb4 hôi (nol 23 Lc3’ 24 d8+ .f8 25 .h6) steers Wh,te’s attenion to die defence of bis c-pawn and away from ie3 Consequently White activates bis king Note (bat Black bas problems in ulilising ber 4-3 kingside pawn ma)oriiy because White s beiter placed to reaci 22 fJ 23 eI g7 24 dI h6 25 e4 White prepares 10 transfer another rook o attack the eneniy c- awn 25 cc7 Anticipating 26 ac4 winch would now be met by 26 cxb4 26 ‘c2cxb4 Since ibis would bave to be played anyway during the next - Xjg z*. À • di.j •jr Lin;
.O k lA s I Isci, Defems couple ot moves Madi makes the capture al ber own convenience 27 axb4 ie7 Black hopes for 28 dxe5 ixb4 with instant equality 28 b3 f6 (D) Wh,te bas played quile adeplly since Ihe lasi diagram, making great progress thanks to lhe king’s march 10 the queenside Ris nex slep 10- wards vlctoiy 5 (o exchange off (lie black defenders and (bus simplify 11w winning process (queening a pawn) 29 c4 30 axc7 xc7 3) LcI! WiIh lus long shepherding 11w queenside pawns il ‘snow possible 10 redeploy he bishop and attack ihe black a-pawn SI e6 32 fla5 f5 The a-pawn ‘slosI and White s about (o have two connected passed pawns Black belatedly hopes for passed pawn o! ber own, but her position s resignable 33 ie3 34 xa7 35 SLxa7 36 €4 1-O White’s bishop detends f2 and e3 and ht threatens simply ‘opush bis c-pawn Black s much too slow in the race for promotion (note that after 36 fl 37 vS xt2 s even out of *1w question due b 38 c6+) liemember that Black more or less forced Ihe ending herself by undereslimating the power of Whites 3-2 pawn majority on Ihe queenside The question ot move order s interesling here In the game YudasinMascarinas mentioned in the note 10 Wh,te’s ninth move, White played for queenside expansion with a2-a3 only aller die moves e1 and e8 had been interpolaled (Wh,te aclually played 7 tel) Loginov’s deciSiOfl 10 dispense with die perhaps slereotyped rook move has the advanlage of templing the nalural but evidently nadequale response of d7-d5xe4 and *d8-d3 Psakhis-Erdelyi Lenk 199) I e4 c5 2 fl e6 3 d3 42k6 4 g3 Ø 5 g2 ig7 6 0-0 ege7 7 eI d6 8 €3 €5 9 aS aS A theoretical noveliy Usually, as we have hitherto soen, Black gets on with bis own plans and allows White bis queenside initiative With a7-aS Black gives the game closed nature, but While an use the self-inflicled weakness on 65 as a home tor bis queen’s knight, even if il costs a tempo lU a4 h6 II ta3 g5? This ‘squite an ambitious patteni ot development, if flot a very good one. and readers should be aware of such a possibilily when Black bas flot castled Preferable s I I O-O I 2 d2’ i06 13 Qjdc4 when White stands slighÉly bttter e4 xa7 f5
KIA vs Sic,Iusn Defence 21 12 Qb5 g6 13 ed2 Now if 13 0-0. 14 c4 rounds lie black d-pawn, which Blacks next is designed 1° prolect *3 a6 14 c4 ece7 15 M! (D) B 15 d41 also confers White a hg advantage GM Psakhis opis to keep the central thrust in reserve until lie bas managed 1° neutralise die potenIiaIly powertul black kings bishop *5 16 cxb4 cxb4 I? id2 ieô 18 iLxb4 White has succeeded in openrng Isp die queenside, alter ail MeanWhule Blacks forces have migrated 10 Ihe kingside and are sorely mlssed and his d-pawn is a weakfless which needs defending (18 d5 19 ‘2icdô-*)18 Qje8 18 xc4 9 dxc4 opens the dtUe in Whutes tavour 19 e3! The 0M emphasises the foliy of Black s opening idea by heading for f5 Whicli would usually be covered by n black g6-pawn 19 Black manages 10 tuck bis king away before move 20i 20 f5 €ge7 Not 20 ixf5’ 21 exf5 ge7 22 ixb7, winning for White 21 tixg7 xg7 22 d4 We sec that Whitc was correct 10 wail with Ibis move, as now Black cannol afford 10 play 22 exd4 and open the long diagonal on whch bis king stands Consequently White can keep bis pawn on d4 and main- tain the tension 22 *b6 23 kIl! Bringing the bishop to a potenhally more active post and adding support 10 the queenside 23 F6 Black bolsters the dark squares around bis king in parlicular ffie al-h8 dia onal 24 d2 White s inteni on refraining from commilting himself in die centre, cnn though 24 cl offèrs good prospecis of increasing bis advan‘age If Black thon chooses 10 block Ihe c-file with 24 4c6, White plays 25 d5 €xM 26 dxe6 tZc6 27 4xd6 4xd6 28 *xdô d8 29 Sta3i 1-lowever. White stands much belter anyway, and there s nothing wrong in improving bis posilion and pressurising Black a liltie more 24 tIc6 25 aS *d8 26 kc3 White prefers 1° keep his useful queen’s bishop on Ihe board rather than allow 26 d5 xM 26 kg4 27 ecI! Again Psakhis wants more 27 dS 6a7 28 a3 wins the exchange, but Black plays 28 fY with die makings of a dangerous kingside
1 KM Sic,Iiun Defeice attack. even more poleni with Whites king’s bishop missng. 27 *e7 2R .b2 A quie move with a decisive threat of 29 d5 b8 30 tc7 d7 31 xb7, Thus Black surrenders his ceniral sIIongpoini. 28 exJ4 29 1èd4 Ge5 29...tjxd4 30 ixd4 a8 3F f4 (ihreatenirig 32 fxg5 hxg5 33 àxg5*) is terrible for Black. 30 aa3! White s commanding the game 10 such an extent ihat an effective assauli wilI bring victoiy Taking the exchange with ixa6 s fol necessary ai Ihe moment and, in order ‘oremove Ihe possibilily. Black must ose ,aluable lime with the retreat which tollows. 30 a8 3 f4 ‘25f?32 15! Closing Black’s bishop oui of the gaine and nailing down the eô-square. White s about 10 close in. 34 35 c7 36 ixeS 37 ib5! This way White material for which no compensation. 37 38 ixe8 I-0 Blackplays...e6and...d5 Against the Closed Sicilian Blacks mosi common scheme ol developmeni is based on Éhe secup ..hlb8-c6 g7-g6 .tf8-g7, .e7-e6 and ...‘25g8-e7. The system which we now move on 40 discuss is therefore a common choice with Sicilian players. although it can equally well arise from a French Defence move order. Dvoretsky-Vulfson USSR 1986 I eJ c5 2 €13 o6 3 d3 ‘25c64 g3 dS S ebd2 g6 6 ig2 i87 I O-O 25ge7 (D) •eS dxeS forces a win of Black will have e7 32 33 4Z5c6+ 34 ‘d5!(D) ‘2se5g8 8 8 exd5? exd5
KM vs Siciilan Defence 23 Black prefers £0 maintain his awil centre because the alternative £xd5 grams White a dangerous jtjalive. lie game Csom-Ivkov, LiubljaflaPOhboroz 1973, arrived ai a position almost identical ‘othe One a0’ the only difference being the developnenI of Black’s king’s kniht on f6 insiead of e7 Here, Whiie played 8 exd5, when Black was obliged ‘orecapture with the knighl as 8,,exd5 9 tel-i s ohVIOUSIY not (o be recommended. After S...Qxd5 the play wenl as foIlows: 9 b3 b6 10 c4! ede7 Il d4 cxd4 12 fxd4 id7 13 ig5 f6 14 Se3 0-0 15 *e2 e5 16 tZb5 f5 l7adl *e7 18td2 tacS l9tfdI and Black was under pressure. 12...1b7. as in the game LaszloPaaI, Debrecen 1997. s worse —13 ig5 ed7 14 ‘b50-0-0 15 *f3 f6 16 adl ée8 17 txd8-t *xd8 18 dl ‘êtand now 19 txa7+ wins, e.g. l9...b8 (19..4c7 20 b5+) 20 xc6-- ixc6 (20...xc6 21 d7 fxgS 22 txb7+) 21 *e3 ixg2 22 tb6. ib7 23 ad7 flcx 24 c5. 9 d4!? WiIh his opponent’s king siilI uncastled White sacrifices a pawn ‘oundermine Blacks centre and deeIop some play on Ihe dark squares. An alternative s 9 4b3, delaying the d3-d4 push unlil il is luIly prepared. 9 cxd4 Bette, than 9...xd4?! 10 4xd4 txd4 (10.. .çxd4 Il Qb3 s similar o ihe gaine, but ihe knighi exchange leaves Black with fewer Chances of counterplay) li with a clear plus for White. Black can also choose lobe saddled with backward pawn —9..,c4 (D) Tins s flot as popular as the capture on d4. The weakness on dS is almost perrnanenily fixed, but il is the surviving d4-pawn which conIributes £0 White’s advantage by monitoring the e5-square. Already knighl and a pawn guard over the critical square, and wilh the rook coming to the e-file and icl-f4 n b pipeline White can look forward 10 a pleasant niiddlegame. Note that ...f7-f6 covers eS but creates another targel on e6. and contesting the e- file means moving the e7-knight. which means neglecting the d5-pawn. Gormally-Zagorskis. Politiken Cup 1998, coniinued 10 c3 ifS Il eI 0-0 12 fl h6 13 h4 (if Black wants b play ,,gô-g5 it will require some sort of concession and, as we know, h2-h4 is usefi.l in re lated positions) 13.,,te8 14 .tf4 td7 15 e5I and ihe significance of ihe e5-square came mb play. Ai’ter l5...xe5 16 ixe5 Black refused to part with a piece which might soon be needed for defensive purposes, forcing back the enemy bishop in the process. 16...f6 17 if4 g5 18 hxgs hxg5 19 Sd2. Then 19...1g4 învited the exchange of another pair of minor pieces. trade which allowed Whiie to carTy oui an unexpecied anacking manoeuvre: 20 1f3 .&xf3 21 *xf3 g4 22th1 (D) w
14 KM S,c,I,u,, Defence B I should poini OUI flot for the tiist lime what a difference Ihe Éraditional h2-h4 and ihe subsequent exehange on g5 made 10 Blacks detensive task 22 f5 23 h5 f8 24 .g5 flaeS 25 e3 (here s another ncon’ernence for Black —finding u new p05! on e3 tor the d2-knight hits d5. f5 and g4) 25 c8 26 g2 17 27 ih6 xh6 28 Wxhô ef8 29 h I g7 30 h5 The Invasion s decisive 30 e7 31 g5 fl7 32 ah I IE 33 g7 xg7 34 P’f6+ g8 (34 flf7 35 flIi8 ‘g836 âgô 87 3 *xfs-’-) 35 ahs ‘c636 *‘e5 Malerral s level but Black s withoul hope l-O 10 Qb3 ébé Black could also bang on to bis front d-pawn hy playing 10 ig4, althougli Il h3 txt3 12 *xf3 gives White good compensation His nexi moes wiII be el .af4 (or ig5) md aadl II ig5 Doretsky hiniseit gives II jj4i intending idô-c5 —as a possible improvement Then Ii d3 2 c3gts I3eI 0-0 14’2ih4ie6 15 ‘xd3s comiortable tor White Black should continue with his developluent and mec! Il if4 with II ifs Atter the planned 12 .td6 0-0 3 el’ te8 (or 3 1e4 14 uS i’c7 5 ixe7 txe7 16 fxd4 ixg2 17 xg2, favouring Whitc) 14 ics êc7 15 ixd4 Whites 1km conirol of the d4-square helps Fiim play against the isolated pawn The less incisive game move works ouI welI. but Black bas better than his next ‘nlI 0-0 12 efxd4 tf5’, effectively neutralising Wh,te’s edge (e g 13 4Nxf5 ixfs 14 ixds txb2) Note Ihat the string of captures begrnning w,th 12 xd4 favours Whiie 13 ixe7 exb3 14 ixfS exal 15 ixg7 xg7 16*xal II €irs 12 eI+ .e6 13 g4! White seems prepared o go 10 any Iergths ‘norder to seize control of d4 As for Black. bis stranded king s the source of bis coming Lactical problems 13 14 îxd4! An imaginative positional sacrifice which tests the Black defençes. 14 c3 was tem ting, with the idea of 14 dxc3 15 xd5’, but 14 4e4 culs acrosç Whrie’s plan 14 ... .kxd4 Or 14 txd4 15 ie3 €36b5 16 a4, tying Black up 15 1xd4 txd4 The besi continuation, as 15 Qhd4 16 tfô leaves Black in dismal position 16 id5! (D) B
KIA vs Sicihan Defence 25 superb Blacks d-pawns have disappeard ami 1w s under severe nressore on the iwo central files WhItC should avoid 16 Uxd4’ exd4 l7if6Xc2) 16 0M! White woiild also retain his initiative after the exchange of queens, cg 16 à’xdl I? axdl cèb5 (f I? d7 18 1f4 creates new and equally strong ibreats on the d-file) 18 jf6’ (even betier (han 18 .xe6 fxe6 19 xe6-- f7 20 f6+ e8 21 geI d7 22 f7*) 18 aIE (il was also necessaly for White 10 consider castling 18 0-0 19 xe6’ txe6 20 xe64 t7 21 d7, when White will soon reap the benefits of his powerful bind) 9 e3’ Whiie s winning because ot the powerful ibreai of ixc6- followed by ed3 and d8+ 17 ixcô *c5! Again Black continues in ihe most accurate fashion Two other tries are clearly inferior, White bas the much better endgame after I 7 &xd I 18 axdl bxcô 19 xd6 axg4 20 xc6 and simtlarly 7 *xg4-1- 18 xg4 ixg4 19 .kg2 s terrible for Black since bis minor pieces are no match for Wh,te’ç raking bishop pair 18 af3! An inieresting possibtlity ‘s8 d5” when 18 ixd5’ 19 e5 e4 20 ie3 greaily favours ihe titsi ployer Black s able to obtain good drawing chances however With 18 xd51 19 *xd5 ixd5 20 LdI .t3 21 xdô ixg4 Another Obvious_looking move is 18 ie7, but Black has a rouIe 10 equality in I 8 ‘xc6I 9 *xdô ‘‘xd620 kxdô fd8 followed by txg4 Whiie’s colin choice s n façi the only way 10 keep Black on the defensive 18 *xg5 Black oses a piece after 20 .xg4’ 2! *g3 h5 22 h3, while the affempl 1° wln a kingside pawn by f,rst eliminaling Whit&s h-pawn s also unsatisfactoiy 20 h5 21 h3 hxg4 22 hxg4 ixg4 23 *g3 L4 (on 23 f5 White replies 24 e6) 24 ixb7 with a comfortable advanÉage 20 fd8’ s weak on account of 2 L *e5’ ‘‘xe522 axeS 21 fladl .xa2 Nol 21 Wxb2’ 22 axe6i fxeô 23 ‘m’xeô*‘h8(or 23 g7 24 ad7F) 24 ‘e5+gS 25 id5-- 22 ad2 afd8 White was threaiening 23 e7, so Black decides to enter into an endgarne in which bis queen faces Iwo active rooks On 22 rieS White anyway plays 23 ae7’ with advanlage. e g 23 rxe7 24 *xe7 aes 25 *xb7 gel+ 26 g2 Éfl+ 27 g3 If Black brings bis bishop back into the game by 22 ie6 Whtie should harass bis opponent’s queen with 23 aesi (noie thai here 23 rxeô’ fxeô 24 *xe6+ Lt8 does not trouble Black) 23 *xd8+ 24 xd8+ g7 25 ad2 White defends his b-pawn before embarking on a graduaI kingside build-up 25 liS! Correct defence, undermining Whiie’s attack Now the suicidaI 26 gxh5” oses to 26 *gS-’- and 27 ‘*xd226 li3 ie6 27 ae4 aS 28 ed4 hxg4 29 hxg4 Because Wh,tes rooks are more active than Blacks qucen 29 ixg4 s possible, when ihe exchange of 19 êxd6 20 c3 aacs *bS!
26 KM ç Sicilsa,, Defence the remaining bishops makes flue defensive task more difficult for Black *gS b6 teS 29 30 g2 31 e2 32 g3 Whpte improves his position with each move, Black mini sit and wall 32 *b5 33 dd2 *gS 34 e3 This move vacates the e2-square for the bishop and invites the rash advance 34 f59 (threatening 35 f4--) Although 35 xe6 meeis wiih 35 *xd2, 35 d4 gives White a distinct pull Éc6+ 36 (3? Afier nurturing bis advantage so weB Whute holds back, lening bis opponent off the hook’ The planned 36 f4’ was called for. with good winning prospects Perhaps Whute wasafraidof36 8’hI,b0t37d1’ prevents any annoying checks 36 g5! With this advance Black guarantees a draw since White’s potential k’ngside atiack has been nullified Now White tries a different approach, but bis opponent s ready 37 ad4 *c7+ 38 g2 ‘f639 id3 *cS 40 jc4 *b5 41 d2 teS 42 reez tbS 43 ib7 l’eS 44 d4 bS 45 ed2 With lie dea of 46 kd5 White’s only remaining wrnning atlempt 45 ½-’A An interesting game n winch Black defended very weIl right from the opening Although Wh.te’s tactical play was nipressive. Dvoretsky’s own suggested improvenient of Il 1f4’ cerlainly makes the central exchange with S exd5 a promismg idea Ciocaltea-flijin Romania 1976 I €4 c5 2 4M3 €6 3 d3 dS 4 42bd2 ecé 5 g3 g6 6 ig2 &g7 7 0-0 ge7 8e1 This normal developing move retains ihe tension in the centre Whute then bas the choice of Iransposing to standard KIA setup with ihe e4-e5 push (as in Ibis case), or preparing timely e4xdS s 9 eS(D) White does no’ have to commit hiniseif mmediaiely In tact keepmg the options open puts the onus on Black to find the most appropriate setup a) 9 c3 aI) 9 b6 10es l’c7 II àe2 gS 12 h3 h6 13 &l eg6 14 d4 (Di was scen n Iuldachev-Murugan, Asian Team Champ.onship 1993 34 35 ie2 Belle, s 35 tc7-4- *c5 36 g2 o-o B ZuIÀ* tt• LAVA. 4À*A 111111 • •Avan
KM vs Sicilwn Defence 27 B By boislering the e5-pawn wilh M White s able to tum bis attention to his opponents kingside weakness created by g7-gS After 4 aS 15 .e3 cxd4 16 cxd4 1a6 17 *d2 fc8 18 h4 b4 19 aecl td7 20 a3 ed3 21 xc8+ xc8 22 hxgs hxg5 23 xg5 the black king lacked pawn cover lie saine continued 23 *b5 24 *dl’ ùxb2 25 êhs *e8 26 h7’ (homing in on Ihe critical t6-square) 26 c2 27 ‘h2.e2 28 10 ixf3 29 xf3 Qk4 30 kg5 4b5 3 I f1 €xa3 (White’s forces are ready for the final assault on the kingside, so Black s welcome b die other wing) 32 ffi+ fB 33 É’h7 lxf6 34 exfb tes 35 *g8t t2M8 36 1h6 I-O a2) 9 4I culs across White’s sneaky plan to ereci (lie (c3-) d4-e5 pawn centre by occupying d4 with black pawn The most uncompromising way for White 1° tiy to mointain a pull ‘s10 push the ePoWn aber the capture on d4 —I O Cxd4 (le c4 gives Black the lime £0 Close Ihe position ‘nhis favour with 10 eS, when both c4 and e4 are flot avallable b Whute’s knights) 10 txd4 II xd4 lxd4 (Il Cxd49 12 c4 leaves Black boo passive) 2e5’ (D) We are following the game Damijanovic-Costa, Mitropa Cup 1991 In the diagram position Black’s dark-squared bishop is irapped n enemy terrilory, enabling White to seek an advantage in the fonn of die bishop pair —even if this does involve a temporaiy pawn sacrifice 2 f6 13 f3 fxe5 14 xd4 exd4 15 *c2 M’b6 16 ih6 e8 17 acl id7 18 *xc5 txc5 19 axc5 and While stood better a3) 9 te? was played in the ganle Ljubojevic-Kulak, RovinjZagreb 1975 White obtained tbreatening position affer die moves la exds txd5 (10 exdsR Il €b3 s flot good for Black, who wiIl also Iose a tempo after, for example. Il b6 12 1f4 II 2k4 b6 12 g5” lb? 13 g4 aads Now 14 *h3’ causes Black considerable problems,eg 14 hô l5”2M3g5 16 .txg5’ hxg5 I? exg5 b) 9 h4 s inleresting If given the opporiunity While wiIl send bis hpawn further n order ‘odamage the pawn shield ‘nfront of the black lang bI) 9 *c7 10 hS h6 II hxg6 fxgô 2 ci h7 li ‘7b3d4 14 cxd4 cxd4 5eS’. Mortensen-Agdeslein. Espoo Zonai 1987 Black bas B
28 KIA ‘Sic ,Imn Defence nothing 1° compensate for bis structural weaknesses b2) 9 e5 secoes sensible In Yagupov-Lilvinov, Minsk 1996 Whiie followed up 10 exd5 xd5 with Il e4 $c7 12 h5’’ ig4 13 hô with lasting pressure which evenlually resulled in a suceessful maling attack fle more sober Il c3 b6 12 ‘7k4aes 13 *b3 ib7 14 Qg5 of Lan-S Loeffler, Gen,an League 1989, ‘sa safe way (o slight edge for White b3) 9 h6 s 11w most popular reply, preparing to answer h4-h5 witb g6-g5 Then 10 e5 f5 Il exf6 Zxtô I 2 eh2 s besi, as 12 e5” invites the Iiberaung 12 txe5 13 axes n 14 el eS, and 12 tfl *d6’ 13 i14 xl4 14 gxf4 xb2 5 b I tc3 s clearly belter for Black Bologan-Lautier Chaikidiki 1992 reached the following position atte, (12 Qh2) 12 fl 13 Qg4 êdô (D) w b31) Bologan played 14 Nf3 but met with Ihe reply 14 e5’ The point s that White’s intended 15 4xh6+° runs mb a deadly pin affer 15 .xh6 16 ..xh6 1g4, go the gaine went 15 IEe3 ie6 lé c4 af8 and Black had ail the play b32 I A year laier in OratovskyMaiwald. Echjr 1993, the talenled lsraelm carne up wmbli an effective alternabve winch had been overlooked or undereshmated by the better known players. namely 14 tb3 °Now blie threat 10 Ihe h6-pawn s genuine because Ihere ‘sno knight on f) ‘obe pmnned 14 h7 15 c4’ .kd7 16 .e3 b6 17 d4 arid Blacks position was beginning 10 look rather loose Il s understandable thal Black d,d not want to hand over the Iradilionally useful e4-square and open 11w hi-aS diagonal for the g2-bishop with 15/16 d4, bul perhaps Ibis ‘sdie only chomce 9 tc7 10 e2 b6 Dvoretsky-Ubilava, USSR j 979, saw Black play more cnergetically by throwing forward bis qucenside pawns, whmle White persevered with bis kingside build-up 10 aS Il h4 h6 12 €fl (consistent, although 12 a4 slowing Black down on Ihe queensmde cornes mb consmderaiion) 12 a4 3 a3 b5 14 4Ih2 M 15 if4 h7 16 tg4 €g8 With an eye ‘olimmting Blacks counterplay before entering mb a more critical stage of his attaclc Whmle played 17 c4’ Alter 17 bxc3 l8bxc3ia6 19 c4’ dxc4 2Odxc4 Lb8 21 h5’ h8 (not 21 gS 22 ixg5’ hxg5 23 xg5+ h8 24 I’e4) 22 hxg6 fxg6 23 f6’ Wh,te had found bis way mb his opponents camp and was wejl on die way b victory Il QfI kaê 12 if4 12 h4 transposes 10 DvoretskyKhalmfman, USSR 1987 Black es. chewed completing bis development and mnstead irmed the unusual 12 E\d4” 3 xd4 cxd4 14 .f4 e06 (14 aacs 15 acI mg better for Whmte) 15 a3 b’d7 6 th2 taes, mntendmng to challenge Whue’s e-pawn wmth fl-f6 White ni ÀÀ’A 41* S1P4II t4 n na
KM vs Sicilian Defence 29 1,piIy waited for (bis imprudent 17 tg4 f6 (or 17 h5 18 f6 xf6 19 exf6 h7 20 ies’ keepS White firmly in control ofthe 0imp00( e5-square) 18 exf6 2xf6 9 xf6+ xf6 20 .h3’ with terrible game tor Black 12 ZadS 13 h4 d4(D) w Black would like 10 use d5 for one of bis knights Anoiher idea of d5-d4 s ‘obe able 10 I3Y c5-c4 without White closing Ihe centre by d3d4 14 ‘2Ih215 9d2! A good dual-purpose move which pievents he planned 5 c4 and also adds power b While’s grip on Ihe dark squares around die enemy king 15 fe8 On 15 Qibds White replies 16 and Black must irade in bis only defender of f6 and hé Such an exchrnige would be disasirous for Black, Cspecially since Whiie’s queen and knights are ready te PC tin ce 16 4Zg4 I .Ii6? 18 ig5! 19 a3 ‘tedsihs d7 ‘k6(D) A brief study ot the diagram posilion reveals that, althougb Blaçk’s pieces seem to be reasonably well posled. the failure 1° work up any notable queenside pressure bas given White carie blanche on te kingside II s also important IbM te reader appreciates how While profited from nserting die move 17 .th6i (forcing 17 .h8), rather than immedialely playing the automatic 17 igS Blacks bishop may be safe on h8. but H no longer bas any influence on die h6-square (unlike Whitc’s) Also the black king is now without the useful flight square in the corner These factors combine ‘ogive While a decisive advantage Quite oflen in diose systems in which Block opis for die tianchetto of bis kings bshop ‘tappears (bat White s able to invade quite effoplessly [bis game s no excepton, with Wbite playing standard KM moves and subsequently finding himself in an overwhelming position 20 kf6! Threatening 10 win a piece with 2 I h6+ Black ‘snext s forced, as 20 .kxf6 21 exf6 h8 22 *h6 gS 23 g5 is final Nor does 20 h5 put up any resistance 21 4h6 xf6 22 xf6* .xf6 23 exf6 followed by 24 *g7 mate
30 KM ç Sic tian Defence 20 €xf6 21 ef6 hS On 2l...*dS cornes 22 *b6! .xf6 23 eg5, unleashing the while bisbop 22 4h6+! f8 Not 22,.4h7 23 4g5+ xh6 24 xflt (better Ilian 24 ‘xe6+the king aiways makes belter rey than the queenfl 24...h7 25 h6-4 g8 26 xhS* xfl 27 *g7 male. 23 tg5 Wilh the audacions lhreat of 24 male. 23 if6 If 23...c8 (intending 24 h7t ‘e8)White has 24 hxf7! (threalening b win the queen with 25 Qxe6+. or 24 axeô!, 24 I.74- 25 €3xf6 Çx16(D) Black bas defended quite cleverly *0 reach the above position. 11e hopes o simply drop 0ie brave king back to g? and force While to de- fend the stranded knight wilh g3-g4-g5. when Dlack wiIl then use his extra pawn. However, White’s play has been very logical 5° far, and w bas, in faci, seen further than hs opponent. The black king is becil of defençe on the dark squares md currently stands outside the fortress. so Wbitc should have so ni et h ing . 26 4M5!! A wonderful move which neyerIheless s die culminalion of While’s skilful play Unfortunalely for Black the only way te avoid 27 11g5 mate caves White Ihe exchange up (26...gxf5 and 26..4xf5 both mccl with 27 %gS mate). If Black ignores hie proffered knighl with 26.,,e5 he meets wilh a humilialing end aller 27 âgs+ e6 28 eg7 ‘d629 ‘f6te6 30 ees mate! 26 ... exiS 27 xeS g7 28 aeI ed8 Apart from being ahead on malerial White also bas a nienacing initiative. Blacks king, (0°, is sIili flot completely safe. Blacks lasI move hopes ho hamper *1w hannony of White’s rooks wilh ...d8-e6. 29 ‘l’g5!c4 If 29..f6 30 g8*! xg8 31 *xg6+ rg7 32 res mate, whilsl 11w iniended 29..,Ne6 oses te 30 I xe6 fxe6 3 I xeô, when Black cannol defend against 32 I’xg6+. 30 h8! Yet another sacrifice’ with which 1° Irouble Black’s king, Now 30.. .xh8 3 I C’h6-’- g8 32 fle8+ s male, so Black slruggles b survive with: 30 €ieô 31 *h6+ ‘f6Once again die black king bas been forced 1° nrn to , but Ihis tue there s no escape, 32 reg! i-O There s no defence to 33 *h8-’- €g7 34 rgs. Black loses a rook after 32.,.d8 33 êh8* g7 34 xd8 (shiil threatening #g8), retreating wilh 32. .,g7 allows 33 *g5 mate. A fine example of how White can inrillrate the weaknesses around w
KM vs Sicilian Defence 31 Blacks king, parlicularly wben Black fiancheltoes his king’s biShOP. When Black refrains from early castiing White does besi (o avoid committing himself by e4-e5, and j0stead temporise with usefiul moves such as h2-h4 and c2-c3. Vudasin-Sukic Rein 1989 I e4 eS 2 cF3 e6 3 d3 t7ic6 4 g3 dS S t?bd2 g6 6 g2 .g7 7 0-0 Qge7 8 eI b6 More flexible than 8.0-0. Since the move ...b6 occurs quite frequently in Ibis variation t seems correct to play ii immediately and await White’s intentions. Interestîng s 8...h6, hoping for Ihe dubious Q e5? g5! followed by ...te7-g6, surrounding White’s e-pawn. 9 h4 For 9 c3 (and 9 exd5) see the nex* gaine. 9 ... hô Otherwise White may push further wilh h4-h5. which Black no longer has to worry about because ofthe reply ...g6-g5. 10 c3 aS! A good move, gaining space on the queenside (also threatening • . .a5-a4) and preparing to flee froni the dangerous hi-aS diagonal, The latTer couid be fuifilled by •.a8-b8, but ..1a8-a7 is potentially more active, Two similar alternatives: a) The game VaravînMoskaienko Alushta 1994 saw the tirst otiting of 10... dxe4, The idea is b dispense with the usual push of Ihe a-pawn n favour of a quick p°sbnig of die queens bishop on the SOON tu be opened fl-a6 diagonal. After I dxe4 .ka6 White bas a number ofpossîbilities: ai) 12 ifl ixfI 13 xfi is enough for a smail but enduring edge. a2) 12 fl?! s illogical and per mils Black 10 take up the desired ouipost with 12...id3. a3) 12 *a4’?! was Varavin’s choîce. Afler 12...id3 13 :e3!? b5 Ihe game continued 14 ta6 (14 éd I must be better as il keeps the queen doser £0 (lie unwelcome bîshop on d3) 14..ZbS 15 4ZeI c4 16 xd3 cxd3 17 ifl (li €3f3 bas boen suggested) l7..1b6 18 ta3 e5 19 Wb3 4d6 20 a4 b4 21 aS b8 22 dI Wc6 23 .kxd3 White liad finally sorled out 11w probiem on d3 (22...’xd3 23 ‘c4),though in view of Black’s superior deveiopment afler 22., 0-0 the situation was far from clear. a4) 12 h5! s aggressîve and promîsing. Black must do something about the troublesome h-pawn: a41) i2...gxh5 13 eS (13 4h4 ‘îg6)13..û3g6 (13.0-0 Funs into 14 Eh4, when die open hi-a8 diagonal mies oui I4...Qg6) 14 ta4 ib7 15 ee4 and White has a dangerous initiative. a42) I 2...g5 ai Ieast denies White easy access to die kîngside. Then 13 eS *d7 14 4a4 id3 5 c4 0-Ois unclear. b) If Black essays the active l0...1a6, Ihen ii éa4!? isa trappy alternative (o Il ifI. The capture I . ..xd3 -uns into I 2 exd5, when 12...exd5 and 12..,*xdS ose to 13 *xc6-f and 13 e5 respectively (on 12...b5 13 éa6 maintains the winning position), Biack’s best, therefore, s il...ib7 or il,,.I’cS, hoping that White’s queen wiIIi be misplaced on a4.
32 KM vs Siciliwi f$fence Whiie daims some space of his own and also fixes Black’s queenside pawns II a7 In Benjamin-Einorn. St John Open 1988. Black played Il ia6 Aile, 2 exds’ be kepi Wh,tes queen’s knighl ont of c4 with I 2 exd5, but White had no prob1cm n finding another course 13 €b3 0-0 14 d4 c4 (14 cxd4 15 47bxd4 is strategcally Iosing for Black due to the solated d-pawn and Ihe weak-point ai b5 and b6) 15 ‘Çbd2and Whiie stood much better Black had 10 bring bis bishop back mb the game wmih tcg-e6, whmle White simply opened up rhe qucenside wgh a innely b2-b3 folIowed by putting pressure on Blacks b-pawn 12 exds! An Improvemen over LjubojevmcKasparov Niksic 1983 where White allowed lus opponeni 10 eftecbively close the cenire aller 2 Qb39l cM’ 13 cxd4 cxd4 14 S.d2’ (imperative was 14 eS) 14 eS’ when Black already had a sIighi edge lndeed Black quickly con vemted his space advaniage mb a win 5 cl (another bi)? s 15 h5) 15 e6 16 c20-O 17 jet 618 ‘d2f4’ 19±3 fxg3 20 axg3 g5’ 21 hxg5 €3g6’ 22 gxh6 .xh6 23 fI g7 24 f2 .ke3’ (winning. as 25 4xe3 dxe3 26 f1 *g5 27 e2 f4 s crushing) 25 b3 ‘Ld4’0-l This game should tic an important lesson White must play enlier the space-gaining e4-e5 or generate pressure on the e-file b>’ exd5 Thus 12 e5 ‘spossible, wmth a v,ew b concentrating on a kingstde build-up Black can expand on the queenside by 12 ia6 13 QifI bS, but Whibe’s sound pawn structure and possibmlity ot a kingsmde aitack give him an excellent game 12 exd5 12 exds 13 k4 grants White a useful outpost 13 €1,3! d4 Black does nol want to be leu with a flxed backward or isolated pawn on d5 .fter d3-d4 from Wh,te, so lie pushes fonçard himself llowever White ‘sweB placed 10 encroach upon ihe weaknesses in Black’s camp Noie ihe power of the g2-bishop 14 cxd4 cxd4 15 i14 O-O 16 €eS! White s quite happy b make a couple of exchanges as he wiIl then possess a group of harmoniously developed, active pieces compared w,th Black s scabtered forces 16 Il ixe5 18 xe5 19 %‘e2 20 Q92 White regromips bis knight. observing die squares c4 and M 20 4k6 (D) Il a4(D) B *d6
KIA vs Sicilum Defence 33 21 xe6! Whites command of die game and die disarray of hie opposing pieces combrne b make this posr tional exohange sacrifice woilhwhile Now 21 *xe6° 22 *xe6 fxe6 23 txcô wins for White, so Blacks next s forced 21 fxe6 22 €ic4 fld7 Black must defend both c6 and e6 (cg 22 c523$xe6+) 23 ‘xb6PeR Nol a desirable move fora queen, allbough al leasi Black covers c6, e6, and gô simulhaneousl 23 *c7 lempis Wbite 1mo 24 xe6 g7 (24 h7 25 ccI’ Pxb6 26 xc6) 25 *xcô ‘Pxc626 kxc6, when 26 f6 s fine for Black Instead Wbile bas 25 €d5’, cg 25 td7 26 ef4 with a decisive advantage (26 Ce7 27 exd7 xd7 28 e6+ or 26 xf4 27 xd7+ xd7 28 ixc6) The other try, 23 ‘àd6aIIows the white knight 10 returu to c4 with tempo 24 cl 4e7 On 24 aci 25 *e4 wins Lsss drastic than the game move s the relreat 24 ‘48,bol this reduces Black *0 passivity in a position in wluch White bas already collected ont pawii for bis exchange White could answer 25 e5 and 26 xd4, leaving Black ‘nwith four weak defend 25 *xe6+ 26 I’e2 Black suives for counterplay, but White now capitalises on the black queen’s sortie. also taking advantage of Blacks hanging rook and knighl 27 ri2c4 *xa4 28 *cé+ g7 29 I’b6! ad7 30 Q\e5 dd8 On 30 3! ‘PcSBlack f,nds bis queen’s rook with no squares on die second tank —thanks in no small part to White’s ail-powerful KIA bishop 31 c7 M’es The queen unceremoniously teturns ho e8 as White threatened 32 ‘Pxg6-4-as welI as 32 xe7+ 32 *e6 I-O Whihe’s troublesome initiative persisted troni 14 cxd4 right through 1° flic end of the game The open mes and exehanging ol key defensive pieces accenluated Black’s problems n protecting the numerous defeots In his position If the point of Blacks delaying castiing with 8 b6 s aimed partty al dissuading White from advancing his e-pawu Ihen H s wo,th looking al the dea of preparing ‘opush the pawn ho eS with 9 c3 This game also feahures Ihe relatively modem hreatment of the variation involving the immediale capture on d5 Yurtaev-Gulko Moçcoi, Olvmpsad 1994 I e4 e6 2 d3 cS 3 en ec6 4 g3 dS 5 ‘bd2Qge7 6 £tg2 g6 7 0-0 i.g7 8 tI bé 9 cl w a hopeless state, pawns stili ‘o‘f7*b3
4 Kil ç Su ilwn Defence Apart from loying wuh effechvely cutting the board in halfwith e4-c5, Whue has al bis disposai an other, quile differeni approach beginriing with 9 Note that ibis should be compared with Dvoretsky-Vulfson Recaptunng wflh Ihe knight seems the better of the Iwo options available b Black (9 flxd5’ 10 e5 is unpleasant) a) 9 2xd5 I) 10 d4’ Openmg the centre s more promising than the automatic 10 c4 With bis king shil in the centre and the hi-aS diagonal not yet properly defended, Black can easily i-un inio trouble deciding winch oC these Iwo potentially 31g- nificant tactors to address firsi ail) 0 o-011 c4€de7 I2dxc5 bxc5 13 €e4 was only slightly worse for Black in S-B HansenMoskalenko, Copenhagen 1995 a12) 10 cxd4 Il eb3 ib7” (tucking Ihe king away seems to be more important Il 00 12 €3bxd4 t?xd4 13 tExd4 iaô 14 c3 and a draw was agreed In PsakhisDokhoian, Sochi 1988. though there s stiil pleniy of play left in 11w position) 12 efxd4 exd4 13 exd4 (threalening 14 c4) 13 c8 14 axe6+ (D) B There s always a danger that something like titis might happen if one of the kings remains n (lie centre after key files and diagonals have opencd In fact the diagram position bas been seen more titan once in international practice, and Black’s correct response has been difficuit (o find over the board For Instance n Komliakov-Moskalenko, Noyabrsk 1995, Black understandably answered with the automatic 14 fxc6’ Tins s the nalural reply (bat most players would corne up with, as the onclear situation wFiich results froin the capture of the rook suggests that Black need flot look for an alternative However. despite the fact thai 11w choice in the game scems ‘obe the only move, the following entertainrng line keeps Black ‘nthe game 14 Ç7i I This clever retreat leaves several pieces coming under attack and, by self-pinning his own knight Black creates a pin of bis own on *1w d-file After 15 .xb7 fxe6 the pin should be enough ‘oallow Black (o hang on, cg 16ie3(I6ixcS’.kxd4,wi,h lite threat of 17 txf2-I-. hightightç Whde’s probtem on the d-file) 16 c4 17 Qxe6 t’xdl+ 18 xdl ixb2 19 d8 fl 20 Qg5+ g7 21 e6+ f7 22 €g5-- etc The ame continued (14 fxe6) 15 Qxe6 d7 16 txg7 ‘Éxg7(16 tf7 was tried in Howell-Soin, Bled 995, when my good friend should have followed 17 ih6 hdS 18 te2 >gS with 19 c4’ ‘b420 txb7 txb7 21 1,3, with a clear advantage *0 White tanks (o the Iwo minor pieces caniped righl ‘nfront of Blacks king) 17 .txd5 ixds 8 *xd5 1d7 19 te5t tf7 20 h6 hg8 21 :el (D)
KM vs Swjban Defence 35 B Whiie bas a bishop and Iwo pawns for ihe rook. his remaining pieces are active ami he con look forward to bammering away al Blacks king for the rest of the game a2) 10 h4 hb li €k4 0-012 tke5 tZce7 13 d4 was Nevednichy’s subite approach againsi Matveeva in Groningen 993 One would expect Blacks exira moves (10 h6 ami li 0-O) 10 have worked ‘nber favour, but die game quickly went downh,Il 13 cxd4 14 ‘xd4*c7 15 c4’ ixeS 16 cxds 4xd5 17 .xh6 kg? 18 kxg7 xg7 19 h5’ and Ihe skirmish in the centre had resulted in Blacks kingside coming under too niuch pressure In faci hie end came aller oni flve more moves 19 gS 20 g4 b6 21 ixds exd5 22 efs. xf3 23 4xf5 ae8 24 *f6+ The central d3-d4 thrust certainly PUIS the onus on Black to tind a rouie to a playable game, and delay,ng as ‘na2’ mer,ts furiher investigation Now let us see bmw play van develop when Black -ecaptures on dS w,th the pawn b)9 exds lOd4 bi) 10 0-011 dxc5bxc5 12eb3 wilh a lurther branch bu) Affer 12 Î’bô 13 c3 Black must play 13 c4 (eg 13 d8 14 ie3 d4 15 cxd4 c4 16 dS Wc7 17 fl4’ tb6 18 fd2 cxb3 19 dxc6 4xc6 20 *xb3, Nevednivhy-Roca, Manda Olympiad 1992), when Oratovsky-Kiriakov, Vejen 1993, cont,nued 14 ‘bd4exd4 15 exd4 .&xd4 16 cxd4 ie6 I? b3 w,th a clear Iead to White because of bis oncontesied dark-squared bishop b12) 12 c4 13 bd4 1g4i9 14 h3” xd4 15 hxg4 ‘73e616 b1’ was the interesting course taken in ihe game Reindemian-Bosch, Enschede 1993 White hopes (bat the bishop pair wiII count for something once die position ‘sopened by b2-b3, challenging Blacks cenhre pawns Afler 16 ac8 17 b3 laS 18 a3 d4 19 g5 d3” 20 b4 *a4 21 cxd3 xdI 22 txdl c3 23 exe6 c2 24 1g5 fxe6 25 ixe7 f7 26 teS f8 27 d4 Wh,te emerged with 100 many pawns b2) 10 cxd4 II tb3 d3 a,ms o gain a littIe lime on Wh,te’s queen, but 12 xd3 IfS 13 IdI 0-0 14 fd4 favours White in v,ew of Ihe iremendous outpost on d4 anti ihe blockaded isolated d-pawn in front ot t Regardless oU how Black endeavours ‘od,sguise his weakness, t should remain with coneci play Cyborowsk,-Kerek, EchU 16 Zagan 1995 s typical 14 xd4 15 €xd4 ie4 16 .kg5’ etc b)) 10 c4 s more likely to crop up al club level Again the (now backward) d5-pawn ‘ssusceptible to attack as the game progresses Black’s problem s (bat once a white knight bonds on the inviting e5-square there s littIe choice but to take il ( f7-f6 s 100 ugly), aller which d4xe5 bolh clears ihe way for Wh,te to larget the d5-pawn and frees the dream d4-square for White’s pieces In faci the imn.e1,- ale I e5 is possible because Iii. rgçj £ *•*•s ‘I.e
?6 KM ‘çS,c,/,an Defe,rce t 1E3xd4 meels with 12 Qdxc4, se Il 4xe5 12 dxe5 1e6 13 €f3 folIowed by f3-d4 combined with a graduai build-up on 6w kingside s uncomfortable for Black 9 1b7 One ot several Olhers a) 9 a5 and now ai) 10 eS •c7 Il *e2 g5 12 7xg5 Wxe5 13 ‘îide4,StanojoskiJukic iii8 Ch 1990. s unciear and requires accurate handiing from Black Compare with ‘b’below a2) 0 a4 ieads 10 play almost identicai to Yudasin-Jukic aller 10 a7, but Vavarin-Zakbarstov, Smolensk 199 I saw Black introduce a new dea 10 d4 and now White tound the most uncompromisrng answer in li cxd4 cxd4 12 e5’ (D) B As ‘sdemonslraied n ihe main game ihe stubborn push of White’s e-pawn ‘oeS can be quite dangerous when Black bas combined a longside fiancheito wilb e7-e6 and the subsequent developmenr ol the kng’s knight on e? In hoping b conlest the olten crucial e5-square Black has voiuniarily created potential holes on f6 and d6. thus weakening the dark squares in general, so planting a pawn on e5 sliouid aiways be considered by White 1’here foliowed 12 0-0 13 e4’ ka6 (13 4xe5’ 14 4xe5 ixes 15 ÇM6+ &xf6 16 ixas s a useful tac- lic to remember because il s a characterisiic of Ibis and related positions which serves b give White confidence when mulling over the pros and cons of e4-e5, meanwhile iFie opponeni flnds himself having 10 work ‘tout over the board) IJow White opted for ihe immediaie 14 QM6+ ixf6 (14 h8 merits consideration, freeing g8 for hie knighl n order Ic, challenge Ihe intmder withoui having 10 surrender the dark-squared bishop) I S exf6 Ct15 16 1g5 êdô (flot 16 Qxf6” 17 d2i, when Hie pin s decisive), and now I 7 d2 would have maintained Ihe balance, wiih a very complicated stniggle ahead Insiead of the check on f6 winch s natural but perhaps a unIe hasty —White can concentrate on occupying the f6-square wilh a piece Again (lie price for this Iuxuiy ‘s(lie failhfui e5-pawn, but aller 14 ig5’’ 4xeS 15 €xe5 ixes 16 f6t Sxf6 I? ixf6 a7 I 8 *d2 WhHe does have attractive compensation a3) 10 fI s not really ositive enough 10 dxe4 Il dxe4 xdi 12 xdI a4 3 bI 0-0 (4 if4 gave White Hie more comfortable queenless iniddlegame in DolmatovA Sokolov, Manda 1990 Declining the ofrered trade of queens b>’ clos- mg the centre with 10 d4 ‘sless convenient for White, particularly with the knight now on fi b)9 O-O 10e5W’c7 Il *e2gS” s a thematic continuation In the game Gustafsson-Murugan, Gaosdal 1991, White insisied on supporling the e5-pawn with bis d-pawn aller 12 ih3 h6 13 .g4 g6 14 d4, but tins resulied only In providing Black with an eniry point on (lie queenside X aaJnrAÀrA AS S U FI J
MA vs Sicihan Defence 37 alter 14 cxd4 15 cxd4 4M Consequefltly White should cali bis opponent’s bluff and grab the g-pawn, which should really be quite an easy decision ‘nview of the number of limes White tends to rustie up activ t’y t’y sacrificing his e-pawn 12 £xg5 b’xe5 13 \de4” (D) B Ibis unl,kely move s an Important improvement on die odd 13 f4’ *xe2 14 xe2 ..a6, wh,ch was aiready lemMe for While in lloehnPedersen. Duisburg 992 In (lie diagram position, from Ihe game Kochetkov-Moskalenko, Alushla 1994. boih sides need to be very caretul il s truc that Blacks kingside clearly requires attention after 11w sacrifice of die g-pawn, though While must flot assume that an aiIack againsi lie enemy kmg s easy md w,lhoui risk, wh,Ie giving up the e-pawn reduces Wh,te’s influence in the centre The gaine continued 3 eg6 (not surpr,singly tlw knigln cannol be laken, e g 13 dxe4’ l4if4tf6 lSixe4e5 [White was hreatening 16 €xh7] lb ixh7* h8 17 4e4’ *e6 8 i’hS and White s wlnnlng) 14 xh7” (14 f4 *c7 15 Qf2 retains a positional Iead withoui entering lino taches which could baçkf,re) 14 xh7(l4 dxe4 l5exf8xf8 16 ixe4 leaves White w,lIi a malerial advantage) 15 f4 *c7 (flot 15 ‘IfS’16 .h3 I’xh3 17 1igS*) 16 ‘Zg5+g8 17 *h5 tds 18 *h7+ ‘f19 b4 (iniending 51m Iy h4-h5-h6 etc ) 19 ge7 20 h5 (20 hS 5) 20 4f5 21 g4 ‘2g3(21 h6 loses to 22 f5 exf5 23 €h7t g8 24 kxh6, and 21 d6 22 f5 exf5 23 ixdS merely invites more of Wh,le’s pieces 1mo lime fray) 22 êh7 ee7 23 f5 (23 h2 egs 24 xg3 €f6 would be an nbarrassing end w an imaginative game) 23 exf5 and now instead of 24 b5’ ega’, which should have put Black finnly In the driving seat, White could have maintained the pressure t’y throwing more fuel on the f,re with 24 ixf7’ (D) B Afler 24 xf7 25 1h6 g8 26 xe7+’ *xe7 27 ixds+ 1e6 28 eI .xd5 29 xe7+ xe7 30 .xg7 the malerial imbalance and lime hired black king are lime key fac- tors ‘nIbis scrappy position 0f course (livre could be improvements for bot sides, but White cannot go wrong wilh the patient 14 f4 c) 9 1a6 10 exds exds virtually forces White b exploit Ihe open unes by simply moving te atiacked d-pawn out oflhe way Il d4” (D) xs.s XVI I Aa
?8 KIA Sic,Iias, Defence B Now I cxd4 12 cxd4 exd4° is OW of Ihe question because the check on a4 picks up a piece Consequently the game Ri Dates-G Buckley Hampstead (1M 1998, went II O-0, wlien White achieved a structural superionI ’on the qucenside 12 dxc5 bxc5 l3b3c4(l3 *b6 I4.e3) 14 “bd4willi a clear advantage 10 Whiie thanks to the wonderful ouiposi on d4 and ihe weak d-pawn 10 eS gS(D) w Guiko essays a tamiliar idea to unsettie bis opponent and gang up on ihe e5-pawn belote White gets the lime ‘ocorne to 15 rescue wtlh d3-d4 Black usually pushes his gpawo with bis queen on c7 and White’s already conimitted 1° e2, Ianning to answer a subsequent Oxg5 with *c7xe5 Consequently. in order 1° gel die most out of Ibis new position White now looks to profit from rhe faca thal bis qucen bas yet ‘omove 10 *d7 does nothing to stop White from executing his plan with Il d4 exd4 12 cxd4 but Prudei-S Ivanov, Leningrad 1989 Isa good illustration of how n°1 ‘oplay Whiie’s side 12 c8(D) w I would hope ihal I would consider nothing but 13 a3 in the dia- gram position. with an edge 10 White Instead White chose I) fI in the game While t s quute normal to drop the knight back to fi in numerous mes of the KIA even this one t s important 40 remember that Black, loo, s aliowed Some aclivily Unfortunately M,- Prude, neyer got the chance 10 hack away al bis opponenis weak dark squares on (lie kmngside (wi*h h2-h4[-h5], efl-h2-g4 .kcl-gS eto) because the swmft and decisive invasion on Ihe olher side of ihe board 3 b4 (obvtously) 14 ee3 tèf5 15 e2 ..a6 16 :d2 exe3 17 fxe3 .khô 18 *b3 *b5 9 el 0-020 a3 4a2i (D) n4 11*1 p4 sapAs flVj, 4Â’*À Pi •
MA vs S,cilwn Defence 39 w As if proving the point to himself, when White finally does nudge bis a-pawn forward he sets the stage for a witty culmination 10 a well played (by Black) game A small nvestment of jusi one tempo on the qucenside would have avoided cm barrassmen t II es xe5 12 edo QiSg6 12 exf3+» 13 *xf3 0-0 14 *h5 helps Wliite 10 a clear advantage 13 d4! Already struciurally supenor aller Blacks provocative lOth move White scnsibly aims Lo increase bis positional lead Il would be easy but foolhardy ‘osec the fail of the g5-pawn as the firsi stage of an early sacrificial strike againsi the enemy king e g 13 ‘23x17’xf7 14 g5+ g8 and. once Black untangles, Ihe extra piece wiIl be more significant than the Iwo pawns The removal ol Blacks g-pawn ‘sneyertheless significant, for now Black will have difficuity finding a Iruly secure haven for bis king, so White should be content b rely on bis other pluses until later AI some point the opportunity to trouble the king should eventually preseni Ilseif 14 eh3 15 a4! (D) d7 Another masterly stroke which arises from Whites total apprecialion of the position Black, searchmg franticaliy fora place 1° bide his king (standing opposite White’s rook is far from ideal), wilI n°1 find the kingside too inviting —hence White’s aggression on Ihe other flank Meanwhile the aforement,oned line-up of pieces on the e-file leaves White wilh aIl the tnimps 15 Eic6 I S as has been suggested, though this short-term solution does cave Black with a fresh weakness on 1,6 as weil as open 1° a future pawn-break with b2-b4 16 ‘f41?x14 17 ixf4 Moiseev’s 17 c4 scems Ihe lesser evil Black’s main problem s bis inferiority in ail sectors of Ihe board 18 aS! Black’s plight goes from bad to worse this ofien happens when one side finds himself under pressure al an early stage —since this drops a pawn Finding a safe alternative, though, s not easy 18 xa5’9 loses a piece to 19 b4. B tnatjt ‘t4arA’t 13 h6
40 KIl iç Ssc,/,an Defence and 18 bxa5 19 dxc5 s terrible for Black This caves I S cxd4 19 axb6 axb6 20 cxd4 (20 ifI *c8) when Black s siili on the board but the king continues to be a problem, e g 20 0-0” 21 *d2 h7° 22 axaô xa6 23 Wd3t h8 24 Ixa6 19 axb6 axb6 9 ‘‘xb6’20 dxc5 *b7 21 *xd5 s easy for White, but 19 cxd4 20 xd4 xd4 21 cxd4 needs checkrng 21 axb6 -uns mb 22 *h5’ Ibreatening both 23 axe6+ and 23 .xd5 Then 22 fS 23 gaci c8 (23 .c4’ 24 xc4) 24 xc8+ êxcg 25 cl puts Black in trouble. while 21 xb6 22 ixd5 sucveeds in inamniaining the pressure 20 dxc5 bxcS 20 O-021 cxbé xb6 22 ‘d221 tXd5(D) Ihe first sign ol lue [rom Whiie’s qucen s also decisive, and Yurtaev lus done well ‘oexploit the subile differences in ilie position broughl about by his opponenis theoretical noveliy on ihe I Oth move Black —apars [rom being a pawn down bas 400 many weaknesses il O-O 22 ‘Éxc5*b5 23 *e3 0f course there s nothing wrong with 23 *xb5 ixbs 24 xaS xaS 25 tZe5 Perhaps Yurtaev was enjoynig the game too much, which ‘sgood for us, because now we sec vhat can be 11w Iong-term implications of g6-g5 if Black’s openung does flot go according to plan 23 *xb2 24 abl *c2 Or 24 *xc3 25 xc3 .kxc3 26 ecl id3 (26 td4 27 xd4 .xd4 28 ixa8) 27 b3 Tactics tend to favour the player In Elie driving seat 25 26 27 28 Alter 28 29 ixc6 cornes 30 1-0(D) As I said in the noie (o Whute’s l3th move, Blacks da.naged kingside pawns mean that hus king could prove to be a liabiluty throughout the game Reneniber that if one of the world’s mesi respected OMs bas diWiculty wulb the black pieces o ihis me, then mere mortals should definilely struggle ixh6 txh6 bcI €h4 ixh6 ‘Ifsb’c5 *xc6 B ‘n74À* 114 ÀS A B IIW&SÂU rAmai u n
KIA vs French Defence 41 3 KIA vs French Defence B I e4e6 2 d3 d5 3 tjd2 (D) I e4 players are bound 10 meet Ihe French Detence quite often, and 2 d3 ‘san excellent way of steenng lesserknown hie game mb channels The ‘Long’Variation The standard variation s one n wh,ch Black decides (o weather die storm ami allow White an ail-oui kingside auack in retuni for counterplay on die other flank, and ‘scharacter,sed by die following sequence ofmoves I €4 €6 2 d3 d5 3 ed2 eS 4 €gfl c6 $ g3 “f66 5g2 Sel 7 0-0 0-0 8 e1 (D) Th,s ‘neoffers play for both sides and an understanding of the respective attacking and defending themes ‘scmcmal, as they are relevant in more than jus’ this variation As prelude w die coming kingside onslaught White wiIi close tue centre by pushing wmth e4-eS, subsequently chasing away Black’s f6-knight and, in faot, leaving Black with a distinct lack of minor piece protection for bis king Since the advanced e-pawn s such an important part of Wh,te’s plans, il s imperative thai Wh,te over-protect il in order 10 minimise the chance of Black essaying die undermining f7-f6 The queen’s knight can. aller h2-h4, make (lie manoeuvres tid2-fl-h2-g4 and ed2-fl -e3 The latter ‘sespecially threatening when Black bas played *d8-c7 and Wh,te the usual kcl-f4, as Ibis niroduces the p055,- bility of playing ee3xd5 followed by es-et Leaving Ihe h-pawn on ihe fourth rank helps support the
42 Ki.4 vs French Defence 5-square for when White plays or .cl-g5, but pushing fiuther with h4-hS bas Ibe advantage of inducing Black to either produce ii target by h7-h6 or allow the creation of a hole on f6 afier h5-h6 from White As for Black the idea s simply to roli the queenside pawns down hie board and force White to make positional concessions which hasten Blacks queenside atbck Marching the a-pawn ail the way to a3 in conjonction with b5-b4 is oDe good plan, whence White will ose considerabie control of c3 anci d4 —opening the way for ihe black knights Anoiher. more accessible, knighi outpost, ‘sd5. which Black will make available by playrng dS-d4 Not surprisingly Ibis Inc pro— duces excihng games, wilh both players endeavouring £0 make the flisi knockout blow Defendrng the king, however. s flot (o everyone’s asic and a slight enor from Black may have more serious cofisequences than one from White Ii ‘sfor this reason (bat White has more fun Fisc ber- Mia g ma su ren Sousse !nterzonal 1967 (From prevlous diagram) S ... bS Black wasics no lime in selling his queenside pawn rouer mb ac( ‘on,the siower S à’c7 was discussed in the Introduction 9 eS d7 bropping Ihe knight back 1° e8 18 less popular —9 tZe8 10 fI a) One idea ‘sto keep te cS-bishop defending die e6-pawn in order ‘oaci on Die kingside —10 £51!6 II exf6 wi(h a further branch ai) Borik-Sonntag, Gerinan League 1996, continued li gxf6 12 ..h6 t7 13 c4” c7 14 cxd5 €xd5 15 a3 b8 16 c1 w,th die better pawn structure for White a2) li txf6 12 ‘e3td6 13 c4’ pots pressure on Blacks centre In Dolmatov-E Meyer. Philadelphia 1991. Whmte emerged wmth a slmgb advantage 13 c7 14 g4 eS 15 xf6+ gxf6 16 cxd5 xd5 17 d2 te6 l8e4*e7 19 h6 etc b) Less drastic s ID M Il h4 Then bi) Il 2k7 12 Qlh2 €b5 13 id2 4bd4 is another justification of 9 te8 Sveshnikov-Petrosian, USSR 1976, was unclear aBer 14 b2) II aS I2elh2a4with b21) 13 a3 bxa3 14 bxa3 ec, 15 .ags 1a6 16 •d2 b8 Was balanced mn Mcshane-Davmes, 4NCL 1997 b22) In Musmi-Veimmirovic, Portoroz 1975, White played 13 g5, when 13 a3 14 bxa3 d4 15 axb4 cxb4 offered Black some compensa- lion for the pawn 10 f1 aS II h4 b4(D}
KIA vs Fre,,ck Defrnce 43 12 ikf4 Some players prefer 1° bnng the knighl round b g4, reseivang the option of concenlratrng on the dark squares by polting Ihe bishop on gS nstead of f4 Afler 12 elh2 Black has a) 12 M’ 13 a3’ bb6 14 1f4 f6 15 exf6 tf6 16 b1 td8 I? Cig4 clearly favoored White ‘nRajkovic-Jakimidis Albena 1977 b) 12 t6 13 g4 (13 1f4 transposes b the note tri Black’s I 2lh n,ove) 13 a49’ (the immediale 13 ‘d4offers better chances to equalize) 14 tgs lZd4 and now in Chuchdov-MUit, Berlin I 998, White tried 15 id219, hoping 101m- prove on 15 €3xd4 cxd4 16 4d2 c8 I7e2ac6 I8*f4b3 l9cxb3 axb3 20 axb3 h5, which was unelear in Vaganian-Yusupov, Gerniany 1992 The point ‘sto leave the qucenside closed Afler 15 4Zxf3 16 .xf3 c4 17 d4 c3’’ 18 bxc3 bxc3 19 te3 b8 20 abI b2 21 .xe7 ‘xe722 *xc3 xa2 23 tie3 eb8 24 b6 a3 25 aebl Wh,te had iaken control of his opponents sec- (or of die board 12 a4?! Belteris 12 iaô 13e1h2 a) 13 a4 14€3g5*e8 ISc4tàbé 16 cxds xd5 17 te4 g6 18 .xd5 exd5 19 g4 4k14 w,Ih chances for both sides, Ye-Malamoros, Bern 1995 b) I 3 c8 s natural bol has had 1,111e suçcess bi) Martinov,c-Schmiudiel, Dortmund 1988, went I4acI a4 151f1 b6 16 g5 leS 17 eg4 a3 18 bxa3 a4 19 2f6+’ gxf6 20 exf6 ixf6 21 1h5 with a decisive advantage b2) 14 kh3 d4 15 4xd4 cxd4 (D) Visser-K,nakov, Groningen 1995 Black gels his open c-file, winch While must deal with before tunling tothekingside I6cI acô 17*g4 ths (8 4t3 ftb6 [9 ig5 f3 20 4f4 kcs 2 I b3 and, lied to the d4-pawn, Black’s queenside coonler had corne to a standstill Note that 21 h6’ Ioses 1022 .txh6 gxh6 23 txh6+ tgs 24 *g6* h8 25 g5 The game conlinued 21 fl 22 g4 fB 23 h5 ‘g824 hI icg 25 gl *a7 26 ag2 *c7 27 cgI Ii8 28 khô’ (D) 28 fxg4 (28 gxh6 29 gxfs opens the g-file for Wh,tes rooks) 29 *xg4 6 30 ixfB xfS 31 hxg6 *g7 32 Wh5 c7 33 g5’ Instead ol resigning Black now nvited nice finish 33 *xg6 34 txg6 hxg6 35 txe6 ‘‘g7(35 ..xe6 36 h2-F’) 36 h2 h8 37 gg2’ ah6 w B SUrI 4 t g t tÀOÀ’14A P4
44 KM vs Prend. Defence 38 :xh6 ‘xh639 f4 g7 40 h2 .e7 41 h7+ f8 42 h8* 10 13 a3! Fiseher ‘shappy (o waste’ a move on Ibis side of the board because 110w Black no longer bas die useful a4-a3 push aI his disposai 13 bxa3 14 bxa3 15 te3 €a5 Gheorghiu-Uhlmann, Sofia 1967, went instead 15 €d4 16 c4 b3 Rather (han move bis atiacked rook White trusted in his attacking opporlunities and put bis opponenl under immediate pressure w.th 17 cxds” Afler 17 xaI 18 *xal exds 19 ‘jxd5ixd3’ (19 1b6 is a btg improvemenl) While played 20 cé’ The game ended 20 ‘1\f6(20 fxe6 21 .c7 if6 22 êcl *c8 23 xe6 threalens xf6 and e7t) 21 Qhe7+ *xe7 22 ‘e5.g6 23 c6 *b7 24 .d6 e4 25 axe4’ *xc6 26 ..xf8 l-0 (26 xf8 27 *xf6’ gxf6 28 g4+, or 27 *xe4 28 *xf7--) M.agmasurens IS eas takes die kn,ght away from the cenne (and fïirther from he kingside), and Black w,lI corne 10 regret taking such a Iuxury 16 ih3! Dissuading Black from challengmg Ihe e5-pawn wilb f7-f6 16 -« d4 Il QrI! (D) B White shows his undeistanding of Ihese positions with Ibis retreat Many players would use die g4-square for (lie knight. but then While’s queen would have difficulty when the trnie cornes (o swing over to Ihe k’ngside 17 eb6 18 g5 Qd5 19 d2 F,scher does flot want to excbange his queen’s bishop because his g5-krnght s menacing enough to push Black into giving up bis own darlc-squared b,shop Keeping watch over the squares f6 and h6 s vital Now 19 h6 meets with 20 4xe6 fxe6 21 .xe6-- h8 22 axas txas 23 .xd5, highlighting a drawback of 15 eas 19 20 xg5 *d7 21 *h5 fc8 22 €d2 €3c3 23 .f6! (D) B White launches the final altack, against which there seems to be no adequate defence AIl of Blacks pieces except lits k,ng —stand helplessly by on the queenside 23 Acceptance of the sacrifice brings no joy 23 gxf6 24 exf6 h8 25 4M) d5 (25 g8 26 ie5’ threatens bolh €xd7 and zPzri rj4 S /ia/%À$À 4 À t! IFS UI X f04 f! rgnwx*i ! V2,’j4flj :
KIA vs French Defence 45 tixt7t) 26 3g5’ exf6 27 h6 le? 28 f5’ g8 29 exh7 24 1e4! g6 Black wilI have to play this move eventually 25 *gS Eixe4 26 xe4 c4 27 h5! White must strike while the ion ‘shot 27 cxd3 28 h4! a7 floping 10 defend along the second rank Certainly fol 28 dxc2 29 hxg6 clÉ+ 30 xcI xcl+ 31 h2’ fxg6 32 xb7’ Sxh7 33 bb4t g8 34 *hst f7 35 ég7 mate 29 ig2! Now White can meet 29 *Œ wilh 30 ie4t followed by breaking ihrough the enemys kingside with hxg6 and .xg6, whilst the challenge 29 .ib7 cuts off the a7-rook ailowrng 30 hxgô fxgô 31 xh? 29 dxc2 30 *h6 *f8(D) w 31 *xh7+! I-O 31 xh7 32 hxg6+ xg6 33 ie4 male Black plays ...b6 As we have scen, While’s forces are perfectly posted b carry out lethal kings.dc attack, go some black players may prefer to dispense with the advance of 11w qucenside pawus and sottie for abc more circumspect b7-b6 and S.c8-b7 When Black delays kingside castiing ‘hob7-b6 strategy deters White from pushing e4-e5 prema’urely, as the e-pawn may become a weakness and Black could take advaniage of Ihe closed centre by casiling queenside and aiming for the g7-gS thmst, undermining White’s kingside defonces and Ihe protection of 11w ail-important pawn Consequently White often reacts by temporising, wailing for Black to make a commitment before acling ‘nIhe centre A disadvanlage of playing waiting moves in order 10 avoid coming under an early atlack s thal the opponenl s given too much 11mo and can simply strenglhen h,s position Bore While manages ‘osupport his centre with c2-c3 and d3-d4 Psakhis-D.Pannovic M,nsk 1986 I e4 eS 2 Qf3 e6 3 d3 c6 4 g3 dS 5 ‘7bd2f6 6 ig2 b6 7 0-0 ib7 S :el .ie7 (D) VflFÀ 4iP _ w, w 9 .3!?
46 (CIA vs French Defence With this usefiul move White waits to sec where the Black king wiII go 11e also retains the possibility of a favourable central exehange with e4xd5 9 é’e2 may transpose ‘onormal unes wilh e4-e5, tunless Black plays the critical 9 b4 10 e5 exc2 Il exf6 ixf6 a) The game Mark TseillinPolovodin, USSR l981, went 12 bI txel 13 *xel .ka6 14 ees 0-0 15 .fI 5c7 16 g4 Ae7 17 O ae8 when the position was unclear b) In Kochiev-Legky, USSR 1984, White dispensed with 12 b1 in favour of 12 €f1 ‘Black played 12 xaI (if 12 QxeI, 13 *xel 1a6 14 5e2 0-0 15 ee3 s slightly better for White) 13 if4 c4 14 d4’ ‘2ib315 axb3 cxb3 16 ‘êb5-*d7 17 ‘Ixb30-0 18 €e3 and White stood a utile better because of his active knighls 9 î’c7 10 c3 O-O 10 0-0-011 esed7 2 d4 as in ilort-Lobron, Bad Kissingen 1981, allows 12 g5 with a double-edged game lnstead White should settle for a slight advantage after li Se? Black does weIl to avoid 10 59 II ai’ wh,ch favoured White in Knezevic-Jovcic. Yugoslavia 1975 11 eS 12 dd(D) D Having played ID c3 White van now support eS with a pawn rather than the more usual SdI-c2, Çid2-f1 and icl-f4 etc The a3-pawn defends die b4-square, ready for the following cxchange 12 cxd4 13 cxd4 a5 In anticipation of a White kinggicle attack Black seeks active play down die c-file Wilh Ihis in mmd White could now play 14 b1” followed by 15 4k3, but inslead Psakhis prefers b concentrabe on kingside operations, judging that Black’s play on the queenside will n°1 be too troubling 14 fI afcs 15 b4! White must prevent *c7-c2 The atiempi b do this with I 5 e3 ‘sflot promisrng as afier I 5 €t4 16 Qg4 h5” 17 €ie3 €xe3 18 Jkxe3 *c2 Black suit achieves bis goal After die game move Black wilI have an unchallenged knight on c4 which, unfortunately, may serve 10 only hamper bis major pieces and consequently not distraci White from building up pressure on die other tlank 15 ec4 16 1.4 b5 A necessaiy move if Black wants to open the queenside fle immediate 16 aS meets w,th 17 bS’ 17 tig5 Wasting no lime in beginnrng the attaclc 17 a5?! Black must look for counierplay, but chasing thc dangerously hovermg knight with 17 h6 would at least prevent Whute from hurling his queen mto die heart of battle Kowever, in answer ‘o17 h6 White’s attacking chances by no means diminish after 18 eh3 followed by 5g4
KIA vs Frewch Defence 47 and ef4 Even 18 xfl’ xfl 19 th5-- may be worth a try. as die remaining cover around Ihe black king could eventually be wiped away wiIh the sacrifice .xh6 18 th5! ixgs While threatened bo(h 19 txf7+ and 19 txhl+, so Black bas no choice but (ogive up 111e manor cx- change’ ofthe two bishops This bas serlous consequences —the blacksquared bishop will be sorely rnissed once White bas pin-pointed the weaknesses in Blacks kings,de 19 ixgs axb4 20 axb4 a4 21 h2t (D) 8 A move wh,ch emphasises the simplicity of the KM Afler guaranteeing that the queenside s sufficiently safe White makes Iogical, simple ihreals on the kingside, inducing imporlant positional concessions which may later be taken advantage of As n 111e present garne White finds that bis forces are so weB placed hat he s able w ignore minor hreats on 111e queenside ——ofien the best that Black cap corne Isp wiih —and make more powerfiji Lhreats of his own on die kingside Il Black now carnes oui the threatened 21 xb4 White plays 22 4Dg4 wilh die idea of g5-e7 and Qig4-%+ The king’s bishop will also play a part in the attack wilh 1g2-f I -d3 Consequently Black sees lime as a more iniportant factor than material and, after slrengthening bis comniand of 111e a-file, bnngs his krnght over to help defend 21 ca8 22 abl 4NfH 23 àg4! Making way for Ihe h-pawn, in order ‘ofollow wi(h h5 and ifs Should Black now escape Ihe pressure on 111e g-file wilh 23 h8, Wh,te obtains a winning attack 24 h5 h6 25 if6’ gxf6 26 exf6 23 fc8 24 hS 25 h6! While then,atically forces further weakening of the dark squares around his opponent’s king 25 ,.. g6 26 *h4 Threatening simply 27 g4, igs-e7 (depriving Black’s king of the fa-square) and 4g4-f6 26 teS 27 .&e7 ic8 28 ‘tg4f5 While lhrealened 29 4f6+ xf6 30 txf6 mating Another way of prevenling this —Iess drashc (han the game —s 28 h8, but Blacks days are siili numbered 29 exf6 F7 30 f4 Black also bas problems affer 30 ‘Çh2,heading for g5 via f) 30 .,, The besi defensive tiy. intending Çb8-c6 Wh.ie’s reaction s violent, giving bis oppoTient no respite 31 f5! gil! Or 31 exf3 32 h2’ followed by 32 ixds! (D) AZS f24kflhIÀÀÂ ,fl zflatJPAt
48 ((F4 vs F, ench Defrne B A position worthy of a dtagram Black has five pieces on Ihe queenside which are playing no part n the game whatsoever Oniy the queen bas corne (o the aid of he king As for Whiie, bis pieces could hardly 6e better posied Two pawns have e’ en found their way into Black’s kingside li ‘sno’ accidentai thai White s excellenhiy and Black terribly placed Moreover the diagram position bas arisen trom active, positionaily orientated play from Wliite who, unIke bis opponent. has used the development of his pieces io maximum effeci 32 exd5 Accepting the other piece with 32 txg4 does not heip White brings an end b the gaine swiftly by 33 xe6’ .kxeô 34 *g5+ h8 (or 4 g6 35 kxe64 h8 36 f7) 35 âg7+’ Wxg7 36 fxg74 g8 37 txe6 mate 33 g5+ *g6 34 àxg6+ hxg6 35 f7-’- While jeuisons bis Iwo far-advanced pawns 10 continue the mat- mg atlack 35 xf7 36 h7 g7 37 ..f6+ ‘xh738 e7+ g8 39 h6+ F8 49 t7+ l-O Black resigned in v,ew of 40 e8 41 el+ mating The KM ‘saplly named’ As wilI le seen later in Ibis chapter. attacking White on the kingside with the g7-gS thiusi can 6e effective agarnst unprepared opponenis Usually, however, White bas already piayed e4-e5 In the next game Arnerican GM Vasser Seirawan wrongly prediets Ihis advance and piays h7-h6, but llodgson has other deas Hodgson-Seirawan W,jkaan Zec 1986 I e4 e6 2 d3 d5 3 d2 €f6 4 42gf3 c5 S g3 b6 6 g2 ib7 7 0-0 2c6 8 eI 1e7 9 c3 (D) B 9 h67! Nol as useful as 9 *c7 Wh,te bas not yel committed h,mseif with e4-e5, so Ihe prospect of the thmst g?-g5 s shil quite remote Consequently Black has simply weakened his kingside a) In the game GeIler-Bagirov, IJSSR Ch 1963, Black considered waiting moves unnecessary and played 9 0-0 Castling so eariy s
KM vs French Defence 49 UFiWiSO, and atter 10 eS d7 IL €311 e8 12 M White was weII in command There followed 12 f6 13 exf6 ..xf6 14 d4’ c8 15 .kg5 cxd4 16 cxd4 €3aS 17 b3 1a6 18 43e3’ with a suce position for White, whose control of e5 (afler €e3-g4) w”1 secure a lasting advaniage b) Black may also give the game differeni character than Ihe usual closed centre and flank attacks by relieving ihe tension with 9 dxe4 This happened in Peiursson-Fehr, Bern 1991, which continued 10 dxe4e5 Il tEc4àc7(lI lêxdl 12 xdl €3xe4 13 ael’ s bad for Black) 12 €3e3 d8 13 €3d5 *68 I4ig5d6 l5*a4h6I6..d20-O 17 h4’ wlien White had a powerlui initiative Surprisingly 11w 1cc- landic GM tinished the game by an eventual hreakthrough on the ueenside 17 ic8 18 h3 b5 19 2hxe7- xe7 20 *c2 td8 21 .e3 c4 22 b4 *c7 23 a4 a6 24 axb5 axb5 25 a5 *d7 26 tc5 d2 27 cl e8 28 a7 *d8 29 xe7’ l-0 10 a3 .5 Il exd5 exds 12 h4! White could lix his opponents queenside wilh I 2 o4, bol Black bas compensation in bis space advanage The energetic game move s more in due spirit of Ihe KIA 12 ... O-0 13 ‘1f5aes 14 *f3 *c7 15 tf1 €3e5 lé Wf4! .d8(D) Black defends both Ihe queen and 11w king’s knighl (in case of €3xh64), but now Iiodgson opens Up the black kingside and gains an enduring bind wilh a piece sacrifice li e7!? xg7 18 *xh6+ g8 19 if4! €3fg4 20 *hS e6 21 Q3e3 ‘d7In a Iost posilion Black tries (o give his piece back in the mosl complicated c’rcumstances possible 21 €3xe3 22 xe3 ifô 23 d4 sa simple win for While 22 €3xg4 23 cZh6+ 24 €3f5 25 ih6+ if 25 g8 Black gels maled aller 26 ‘g4th7 27 ..g7’. threaten.ng 28 *h5+ g8 29 *hS mate 26 ig7! ..xg7 w xvi *1V4*tI JUS VAL* *144 k n ri n in 17xd3 aî6 ‘e8(D) w xsrs... j *Â7jA’ flflW
50 KM vs French Defence Black ends up a piece down after 26 d8 27 ixf6-J- (27 x 28 thS-. and 29 ‘l’xfô)27 xe6+! I-O If 27 *xeô 28 xg7+ and 29 )xe6 Blacks queen s also ost ai- ter 27 dS 28 d6, and in answer to 28 f8 White can choose 6e- tween 29 e7 or 29 :h6’ Konsta n tin opols ky- Ban as Correspondence 1985 I e4 c5 2 €313 eb 3 d3 3c6 4 g3 d5 Remernber that if Black holds back the d-pawn Ihen would keep 1*5 Sicilian now we transpose 10 Defence 5 ‘3bd26 1g2 7 0-0 S Li 9 eS(D) White shows Ihat he s happy to follow a more traditional palh than wailing with 9 c3 or 9 a3 [rom this point on the game revolves around the es-square, which While w,ll o ver- prolec I io en 10 c4’’ ‘san inlereshng alternative, afler which Wbpte aims *0 win control oC e4 b use as a knight ouipost Cur* Hansen-Kasparov, Malta Olymp.ad 1980, went inslead 10 64 *c7 II ée2 h6 12 €3fl 000 13 tîIh2 dgS’ (an improvement over 13 b8, which was seen ‘nBiyiasas-Petros,an, Buenos Aires Olympiad 1978, when 14 ..f4 ‘a815 g4 ers 16c3 €3d7 17a3 bS 18 64 gave White a slight advantage due b bis successful space-gaining n,tiaIve on the queenside) 14 €3g4 Cf8 15 kf4 g5 16 hxg5 hxg5 I? id2 h5 18 c3 €3g6 19M c4 20 d4 aghs 21 a4 aS and Black had conifortable game The idea behmd 10 €3fi s to de- fend *6e e-pawn with .,cl-f4 rallier than *dl-e2 Consequently White 18 able b develop the queen on d2, making Blacks g7-g5 break more dirncult to realise le tc7 In Schlenker-Raiceviç, Linz 1980, Black opted for 10 g5”, leading to a remarkably complicaled baille There followed II Ce3’ liS (Il €dxe5 12 €3xe5 €3xe5 13 àxd5’ favours Wh,te. nor does hitting White’s knighbs give Black anyjoy Il d4 l2c4g4 13g5 intending €3gS-e4 —13 txg5 14 €3d6-) 12 c4 d4 (12 g4 13 cxd5’ exd5 14 €3d2 s excellent for Whule) 13 €3d5’ exd5 14 cxds g4 (if 14 Nb4 15 d6 ifS 16 ixgs) 15 dxc6 kxc6 16 e6” fxe6 17 xd4’ .xg2 (baking the knight w,th 17 cxd4 s st,II very good for White 18 ixcô c8 19 xe6) 18 exeô kO’ 19 Cxd8’ gxdl 20 €3c6 h7 (or 20 1f3 21 rxe7+ L’fS 22 xd7 txc6 23 Zc7 w,th a dangerous initiative) 21 kgs ko Ihe game characler, a French f6 ie7 b6 1b7 R 9 €3d7
Kil vs French Defence 5? 22 €xe7 f7 23 ih4’, and White had the much better game il .Lf4 0-O-0 [ht tempting II g59? does flot work out well for Black here. as 12 exgs “dxe513 ‘IhSgives White a clear advantage 12 h4 h6 13 td2 L1g8 14 h5! A good move White wiIl not be able to prevent a kingside breakthrough, 50 ht keeps Black temporarily as bay by saddling him with a weak h-pawn afler the following advance 14 1$ hg6 xg6 Better than I 5 fxg6’ 16 .kxhô, wlien Blacks g-file wilI be blocked and the e-pawn a weakness In his variation Black finds t casier b have an open g-file and push the hpawo up the board rather Ihan the other way round, because ihe hS-h4 thrust threalens (o dismantle Ihe white king’s pawn cover 16 4e3! Preparing a pseudo-sacrifice on d5 16 h5(D) Black judges ihe threac 1° be harmless and subsequently con‘mues with bis offensive lndeed avoiding White’s next with 16 jffi or 16 *dS leaves Black with passive position Challenging the knight s also a faulty plan 16 d4 17 c4 b5 18 td6* ixd6 19 exd6 Rbô 20 c3’ opens up the qucenside and gmves White a dangerous initiative 17 4xd5! TIns pseudo-sacrifice occurs quite ofien in Ibis line, and the reader should become acquamnted wmth (5e idea White clears the e-file for his rook and distracts Black’s attention from bis kingside attack by ptitling him on the defensive 17 exd5 18 e6 *dS Black prefers to keep hms krng’s bishop on the board so that he can marntarn al leasi some observation ofthe dark squares on the kingside Exchangrng this piece by 18 td6 would merely strengihen Whues grip on eS, g5 and (more importantly) h4 19 exd7+ 20 txe7? *xd7 Accenluating the point made in lhe Iast note White considers the enemy bishop to be such an importani piece that ht ‘sprepared to sacrifice the exchange in ordem to eliminaie t Now 20 xe7 pern,fls Whist to w’n back the exchange in favourable circumstances with 21 ees, although White’s activity and raking bishops anyway confer him excellent compensation aller the queen recapture 20 titi 21 h3+ g4 A practical choice, as 2 I d8 22 tel *I (flot 22 *fô 23 ig5) 23 4h4 leaves Black with two rooks that are no match for Ihe menacing white minor pieces Note also that bis krng would be lefi living
52 KM vs Frenck Defence dangcrously in the centre, cia off on bolh sides by Wh,te’s rook and bishops 22 ael td7 23 ees?! Konstantinopolsky misses bis chance ‘otake a clear advantage with 23 when 23 xg3* 24 ixg3 ‘xh325 *f4 td7 26 ee5’ txe5 27 WxeS threatens both 28 ‘b8male and 28 *xh8 Black now punishes Ibis inaccuracy by pIayin a pawu b d4 himseif, subscquently opening 11w long diagonal for his hilberto Iifeless bishop 23 24 xeS d4! 25 àe2! d8! BoIh sides succeed in finding diltkult moves Again i1w appealing 25 Zxg3+ lads 26 fxg3 *xh3 27 e8+ d7 28 t7+ tcô 29 xhS Approaching from another angle wilh 25 c6 also proves unsuccessiul, slnce 26 f3 txfl 27 ae84- d7 (27 xe8 28 *xe8 mate) 28 *e7+ c6 29 .g2 wins Ihe black qucen 26 1g5+ c8 27 e7 (D) 27 éc6? Ironically 27 xg3+ now draws’ The reason s thal atter 28 fxg3 *xh3 29 &8+ d7 30 xh8 ‘hl+31 ‘t2*g2+ 32 ‘‘elIhe queen’s bishop no longer defends the g-pawn, makin 32 *xg34 possible Even 30 We7-f does Dol help White 30 c6 31 xh8 Wxg3+ 32 fl *f3* 33 el *hl34 d2 âg2-i- sf11 draws because the retreat 35 te2 caves abc bishop unprolecled 28 xb7 Removing Blaek’s relnainrng bishop and ensuring a won game thanks to Ihe power of While’s quecn and bishops 28 *xb7 28 xb7 oses abc qucen to 29 ig2 (29 txg2* 30 txg2 axgs 3 I *c7-I- picks up the grcedy rook) 29 f3! f5 30 fxg4 hxg4 31 êe5! Taking advantage of Blacks exposed king 1° force abc rook off the h-file If now 31 txh3 Black loses immedialely 10 32 teS+ c7 33 kf4 mate While 34 *bS+ e7 35 36 37 g5+ tes e7 f7 g6 ;ri Or 37 e8 38 *f6-+- h7 39 tf7± i’xd7 h6 40 ig5H- xg5 41 38 h4 39 .d5 h5 40 ie7 I-0 One finish might be 40 c8 41 f7+ h6 42 *fô+ h7 43 ‘g6h8 44 f6 mate Remember (bal Black castled queenside’ Now fora classic example ofhow nol ‘oplay the KIA Black reacis (o SI 32 ig2 33 if4 33 resigos consideration f8 *d7 d8 ‘sanalteniat,ve worth Tue resi ‘seasy for B
vs French Defence 53 her opponent’s passive, stereotyped play by castiing queenside and mliiIessIy atiacking ihe enemy king Troianska-Jovanovic Wn,e,i y Olvmpiud Obephausen 1966 I €4 e6 2 d3 d5 3 ed2 tf6 4 egi) cS 5 g3 b6 6 ig2 b7 7 eS ÇfcI7 8 0-0 Zc6 9 eJ .te7 (D) w 10 c3? flo passive In Ihe above games in whicb White played an early c2-c3, 11w e4-e5 push followed only ai White’s convenience —usually once Black had commitled bis king In this game, however. apart from no longer having o wony about Whtte advantageously playing e4xd5, Black already lias a larget In While’s e-pawn Consequently Whites besl continual,on in (lie dia gram position ‘s10 c4’ The game Jadoul-Kruszynski, Copenhagen 988, continued 10 d4 Il h4 (also possible s GM Keenc’s suggestion Il Qe4, cg Il cxe5 12 xe5 exes 13 txc5i) Il *c7 12 e4’ kxe5 13 txe5 exe5 14 if4 O-0 15 *hS f6 16 €g5’ fx5 17 .kxes *d7 I 8 bxgs ixg2 I 9 xg2 with a big advantage ‘oWhite Indeed (lie pressure on the h-file forced Black 10 enter mb a very passive and inferior ending with 19 te8 20 *xe8afxe82l f4 10 c7 II *e2 Unfortunately for Wide defending the e-pawn with I I d4 does not work Black can play Il cxd4 12 cxd4 tèb4 13 e3 *c2 14 *eI *g6 followed by eb4-c2 II gS Undenrnnrng White’s hold on e5 and prepanng a kingside attack 12 h) O-O-O Due to the imprecise move order things have not gone wçll for Wide Insbead of lie usual territorial advantage on the kingside, she s about to face a vigorous offensive on thal tlank 13 d4 Jovanovic-Ranniku, Yugoslavia vs USSR 1964, saw Whule Iiy 13 tfl Alter 13 dg8 14 a3 h5 White prevenled gS-g4 by playing 15 g4 lirsÉ Black reacted energebically 15 hxg4 16 hxg4 ta6 17 g3 h4” wilh a crushing attack, as 18 xh4 gxh4 19 QLfl tZcxeS s much better for Black The game move at least justifies 10 c3. but White s flot putting any pressure on Black’s queenside Black, on the other hand. embarks on a plan ‘oopen up the h-file 13 liS 14 t2b3 dg8 15 eh2 c4 16 €d2 g4 17 hxg4 17 1.4 keeps (he kingside leniporarily closed Then Black Inay eventually break Lhrough wibh t2d7-f8-g6 followed by sacrifiemng on h4 17 ,.. h4! (D) À8IÀ • SAsflU • RSA
54 KM n French Defence Seing a pawn down ‘sirrelevant f Black wans io invade 18 tjdfI êd8 Heading for Ihe kingside 19 1,3 20 b4 21 a4 22 Lf4 23 ixg3 24 7e3 Faced with the strong .kg5-f4 White sacnfices 25 xc4 26 *‘xc4 Intending 27 ixcô kxb7+ xb7 winnrng 27 QfI 28 ixc6 Or 28 ixf4 *xf4 29 Àxcô axg4 28 O-l (D) 29 kxhl xhl ‘smate A fautas- tic finish, the culmination of very ,nstmctive play from Black Whi*c plays te2 Psakbls-SmlrIn Haifa 1995 I et c5 2 ‘Oe6 3 d3 ‘tc64 g3 f6 5 ig2 1e7 6 0-0 dS 7 *e2 0-0 8 eS d7 9 c4 (D) This push of the c-pawn ‘sthe idea behrnd replacing €bI-d2 w,th •dl-e2 in the main une R>’ leaving the krnght on hi White ,ntends to develop ‘tmore act.vely on c3, where il wilI team up w,th the c4-pawn 10 hit the dS-pawn Moreover, with the queen supporting the eS-pawn Wh,te might get the OppOr tunily £0 develop bis kings rook more actively on the d-file f Black has tned b release the tension with the central exchange d5xe4 Another point of planting the pawn on c4 ‘sto deny Black the use nÉ the dS-square for his pieces afier dS-d4, whereas White will stili have access b the crucial e4-square Finally the c4-pawn tends b hold back Black’s tradibonal queensde pawn-storm The downs,de to w •1j t risc •* ‘l’ainB .ka6 —f8ib7 hxg3 *h6 igs threat of dxc4 ixg3 28 w *M1Â FA RfI*C tAN
KM vs French Defence 55 Whiles setup with the queen on e2 and paWfl Ofl 04 s lite potential weakness of the d4-square, winch can no longer be defended by pawn and s therefore susceptible *0 aitack at any moment However, modem praclitioners of Qe2 have shown that tins is not a problem, hence the revival of this une In fact an aulomalic c6-d4 can easily backfire In the diagram position Black has more Ihan one way of dealing wi*h the challenge in hie centre 9 d4 Closing (lie centre is a popular ieply al ail levels ilowever, despite the fact that fixing *he pawns has sertous long-ierm positional Implications. I doubt that most players sufficiently appreciate this when pushing the d-pawn A surprising number of IMs and OMs have suffered wiÉh Black here due 10 a lack of decent counterplay With an ohvious space advantage on Ihe kingside Whice’s plan of attacking the king s raiher easy (o execute, but Black wiIl (md t problematic generating a queenside counter because of the borner on c4 Moreover, flic irue menls of occupying d4 are 00w irrelevanl because pawn stands in Ihe way —there s no need for Whue to worry about such a possibilihy As we know, the e5-pawn effectively culs Ihe board in two, limating Black’s defensive resources by covering f6 (and d6) and severely limiting breathrng space but eliminating t wi*h (7-f6 could prove more detrimental than beneficial, and attempls to capture the pawn —which tends *0 be 1m- mufle anyway, for one reason or other —mec’ wilh textbook over-protection 0f course these laclors do flot mean that Black ‘slosing, but lite commuai, restrictive nature of 9 d4 lias prompted todays practical players b search for more uncompromising alternatives a) 9 dxc4 10 dxc4 (D) B Removing the d-pawns presenls Black wilh flic prospect of distracting White from maners on the kingside by threatening to land a knight on d4 (or even d3) or —given the chance staging an invasion on the d-file White, (00, van *oy with abc idea of playing on the only available open file The d6-square, for instance. s perhaps even more invihing than d3 s for Black because Ihe e5-pawn supports a hakeover by knighl via e4 or b5 (note that Whihe’s queen’s knight has more options on bi than d2) Let us hake a look al a few examples al) 10 àc7 sa nalural move because il atlacks the e5-pawn and leaves d8 froc for a rook, but posiing the qucen on hhe h2-b8 diagonal can be risky il 1f4 €d4 Black strikes first, flic point being that after 12 tZlxd4 cxd4 White cannot bring bis remaining knight out to c3 The new intereshing feature of the position brought about by the cx- change of knighhs is the significance xrjAis En *ÀI’44*L*Â •4aI AI! 1*dt
Ç6 KIA vç F,ench Defrace of the pawns on c4 and d4 It s not important that the d4-pawn s passed because there are too many picces on the board, but ‘t‘seffecti ’cly,solaled and conseqoently vuinerable Meanwhile hie c4-pawn stili covers d5 Fogarasi-Groszpeter, Gyula 1998 cont,noed 13 h4’ (see While’s l5th and ISth) 13 d8 14 Qd2 (die knight s heading for e4. note tuai achieving this would be difficuli w,lh ihe pawn on c2) 14 N 15 h5 (by bringing the rook to the d-file Dlack also vacated the fa-square for (lie knight —which in tom bas made way for the iighL-squared bishop —10 hit both f4 and es froni g6) 15 id7 16 “e4kc6 17 fdl ad7 18 ef6+» (D) B A tainiliar motif wiih die bishop and queen lined up on die h2-b8 diagonal 18 gxf6 19 exfô id6 20 *g4-4- 3g6 21 hxg6 (White’s hpawn s incredibly useful n these unes’) 21 hxg6 and now Wh,te went in for the ciii with 22 1h6 ixg2 23 xg2 •c6-{- 24 f3 *xc4 25 d2 wilh die n°1 very subtle plan of keepiiig the black king company with 1h6-g7 followed by mating clown the h-file UnfoTlunately for Fogarasi the experienced GM found ciever defence involving the donbling of qucen and rook on b5 and d5 respectively. spoiling the flan (jugE in tue nick of lime) with d5-h5 Ilad White noticed die biockade on h5 lie m.ght have sel- lied for 22 txd4 winning a safe pawn. e g 22 e5 (22 ixg2 23 S’xg2 changes nothing) 23 Àxc6 *xc6 (23 exd4 24 ixd7) 24 Axes and Blacks king s stili in danger a2) 10 b6 Rallier than bur,y knight to d4 Black plans b preface the jump mb Whate’s haif of the board wilh his own bmsbop fianchetto on ihe long diagonal, hop11g 1° case the defenswe task by trading Iight-sqoared bishops along with a pair of knights a21) II ec3 ..b7 12 tf4 4d4 13 exd4 ixg2 14 xg2 cxd4 15 tj5 and now in BalashovReckhums, Munster 1993, Black lried 10 shake off Wh,te’s gr,p on d6 and the attack on (he d-pawn with 15 g5 undemmining Ilie support of the eS-pawn Afler 16 icI d3 17 ‘Sxd3Qxe5 18 *e4 4Nd3 19 &e3 Qxb2 20 Éc2 f6 21 abl c8 22 xb2 ixb2 23 *xb2 rxc4 24 ‘gla6 25 d4 b5 26 f3 f6 Black had collecled a rook and iwo pawns for the iwo minor pieces and, although there are obv,ous weaknesses in front of the black Icing, the gaine is evenly balanced Blacks dea de- serves furiher tesis, even ii ‘tdoes appear lobe positionaliy suspect a22) Il d1 defends d4 and gives Black something to worry about on the d-file In Sepp-Voon, Estonia Ch 1996 Black addressed the pin on 11w d7-knmght immediaiely and nudged his qucen 10 safety’ il ‘I’c712 “ik3a6 13 1f4 ib7 l44Zïd5’ (D)
KIA vs French Defence 57 B Hi hiighting another feature of the e2 une Although sacnficial ideas are well known with Black’s queen on c7, holding the knight bacL on bi facililales this much earlier possibiIty which many players sec 10° late, oflen Ioo busy keeping die knight oui of d6 with tempo on the queen afier tc3_b5 14 exd5 15 e6 d6 16 .xd6 I 7 xd5 *xe6 I 8 *xe6 fxe6 9 xd7 ab8 20 Ng5 and White was welI on his way 1° a comforlaile Icad in he ending b9 b6(D) H, This has been seen a greal deal and ‘salso used by some KIA players, go il should be taken se,’OusIy Black refuses to commit h,mself n the centre. thuç nipping n the bud any plans White may have had of a quick occupation of the d-file after whal could be seen as a preinaturc exchange on c4 More Imporiantly. perhaps, s Blacks influence on e4 the longer Black ‘sable to corne up with constmctive moves and operale behind the centre pawns. the longer Wh,te must try ‘oengineer an initiative w,thout Ihe use of bis favourne e4-square As for White, he ‘snot in ‘00much of a rush because there s no danger of coming under a rapid queenside counter lhanks b the awkward knighl on b6 slowing things dowo Whites extra space offers more room for manoeuvre, and herein lies bis advantage —al some point Black wiIl have ‘omake some kind of concession in the centre The followrng examples help il- lustrale so,ne of the ideas available to both sides You will notice that Whites basic paltern of development is the same, t is just a matler of what happens b die queen’s knight and die kings rook 0f course some of this will be determmcd by Blacks play, which tends o involve finding a role for the queens bishop in readiness for an eventual capture on c4, action wilh ‘Zk6-d4or queenside expansion with a7-a5 (or a combination of Ihese) bi) 10 iLf4 (White’s dark-squared bisho of course, belongs on f4) 10 - d7 Il h4 (and pushing the hpawn al leasl a couple of squares aiways comes in handy) Il Qid4 12 ‘îxd4cxd4 I 3 d2 .c6 s an understandable continuation froin Black’s point of view Trading White’s excellent light-squared bishop ils notoriously poor counterpart is certainly a desirable deal for
Ç8 KM vs French Defene 11w defender The puce s the sitting target on d4 Bronstein-Dzindzichashvili. USSR Ch 1972 saw Black’s efforts to defend the d-pawn lead £0 bis early resignation 14 adI ca4 15 tb3 dxc4 16 dxc4 and the pawn cornes under attack Weighing up tue pros and cons of ec6-d4 s flot easy for Black, particularly when this thematic move pron,,ses te solve short-terni probIerns 16 leS 17 lxc6 bxc6 18 xc5 ‘xcS9 .e3 d3 20 Ég4 te721 igs I-0 b2) With 10 adl Wlute s etrectively looking to prevent the knighl coming to d4, or al leasi moving the rook mb position just in case In Zhan Zhong-Chuah Heng Meng, Asian Teams 1998, Black found reasonably constructive sertes of waiting moves There followed 10 a6’2 li h4 *c7 12 .f4 d8 intending to meet the preferred I 3 QjcJ with a weII-umed 13 ed4, Mien 14 xd4 cxd4 leaves Ihe knighl without a deceni square as b5 and e4 are covered Ibis leaves Whites game choice 13 €bd2 la? I4fI e8(D) w Black has been rewarded for bis sensible trealment of the opening with a level of flexibility that ‘shard to find in what can be an uncomfortable variallon for the second player By refiising to be drawn mm making a decision in the centre after 9 c4 and subsequently threalenrng to jump mb d4 rather than blindly doing so, Black has been able 10 Or ganize bis forces in sueh a way Ébat ht has a certain amount oC influence n the centre and is ready to act on the queensmde Il ‘sonly on the other wing that there may be cause for concern, but this ‘snevitable in this line Wibh no relaxrng of tension in Ihe centre Whtte needs b keep watch across the board when conducting the kingside altack The garne cont,nued 15 b) aS 16 e3’° (compare the position afier 6 a4 with b3’ below, where WhiIe’s queen’s knight finds a productive outposl on bS) 16 a4 I’ g4 and now Black could have considered 17 dxc4 18 dxc4 :xdl+ 19 rxdl d8 whicli keeps Whmte busy wondering what 10 do about the only open file, the d4-square and bis queenside pawns Insiead the diagrarn position arose afler 17 h8 18 h5 axb3 19 axb3 xa1 20 xaI dxc4 21 dxc4 (D) B There 15 no doubting White’s dangerous looking domination of 11w kingside. but the exchange on b3 11X1114 Si. titi 8a11i ri •A &gj r rAni.
KM vs French Defence 59 and ihe subsequent Érade on the aflic have undermined Biack’s abiiity 10 drum up counteiplay By holding back with axb3 (only Black can decide what happens 10 the queenside pawns as b3xa4 is 0W of the question) Black could have denied lus opponent an extra potential dntry point With mosi of White’s amuy ready to pounce on his king, lie finally released his kn.ght 21 d4 22 exd4 xd4 (22 cxd4 al least breaks Ihe symmehy al a time when the d-pawn wiII defiTuitely need watching over, giving Black Lime 10 alleviale the pressure by contesling bishops on Ihe long hi-aS diagonal) 23 h6 g6 24 ..e3 d8 25 *f3 d3 26 a7 (by now Black must have been regretting bis lSth move) 26 xb3 27 xb7 S¼18 28 h2’ (cruel 28 b4 (in a losi position Black kindly sets up an instant win) 29xe7 l-0 b3) 10 h4 a5’’ Black wastes no lime getting w work on hie queensi&, n Ihe hope of infiltrating enemy hnes M firsi glance White’s reply seems antipositionai I I a4 (D) B Pixing the queenside pawns in Ibis way depnves Black of any pawn breaks, and the permanent weakening of Ihe 1,4-square s proferable to aliowrng a5-a4, wh,ch gives Black too much space Over on Ihe kingside, on the other hand, we sec that White enjoys 11w usual frecdom, so Black needs 10 use bis pieces weIl if ho s ho create enough of a diversion In fact with flue correct plan Black shouid be able w limit his opponent 1° prevent an aItack on bis king with a welI himed opening of the d-flic Djurhuus-Ostenstad, Asker 1997 saw mass cxchan es on due only open file —il d7l24k3Ml3dItc6 (bnngrng Lhe bishop 10 c6 s dciinitely a good plan) 14 h5 h6 15 b3 tc7 16 if4 radg 17 b5 àbs 18 4h2 dxc4 19 dxc4 (19 bxc4 avoidg the trade of major pieces but leaves White with weak pawns on a4 and d3) 19 ixg2 20 xg2 xdI 2! ZxdI d8 22 g4 ZxdI 23 *xdl te8 24 f3 1Zc6 25 ie3 *d8 26 *xd8* €xd8 27 f2 d7 28 f4 (D) B isis lAI tAtA 4as• P4 n*n £ ‘ï/4n •,*nsm fn This kind ofending is whai Black can expecl b find himsclf in if While meets a7-a5 with a2-a4 and s subsequcntly content with the (considerable) extra space on the kingside Black’s position is solid but cramped. making the draw far
6f) KM vs Frcnch Defence from automatic In fact in (ho game White advanced bis g-pawn, sent the knight fi-om 12-d6, pui bis king on e4 and Ilien won by giving up a knight for Iwo pawns M) Finally, this s what happens when White fails ‘ogive Black’s queenside play the respeci t de- serves 10 b3 aS Il 1b2’ (11345 necessary) I a4 12 ta3 kd7 13 tc2 Ea5 14 d2 kc6 15 f4 d7 16 Ldl fd8 (D) somelbing bas gone awfully wrong for Wliite Gone are the menacing niinor pieces preparing to do their worst on the kingside ins(ead we sec them ti-yrng to hold the queenside logether Moreover. Black ‘sthreatening (o remove he lone bishop on g2 The cause of Oie whole unpleasan (for While) siloalion can be traced back 1° Whlies I lth move which failed rn arrest ihe black a-pawn After I 7 1h3 dxc4 8 dxc4 axb3 19 axb3 (19 €xb3 caves a2 and c4 (00 weak) 19 *d3 Black was in total conirol c) 9 res The main dea bebind lins move s b find a defensive mie Ofl f for the dl-knight Black aiso proteots ihe e6-pawn in order £0 meel 10 h4. for example, wilh 10 f6. when Il exf6 ixf6 mon’- tors Oie hole on e5 With Ihis in mmd the nakwal 10 el s a good reply, for now Il f6 12 exf6 Sxf6 13 cxd5 exploits Oie pin on the e- file Therefore Black relurns to Oie original plan 10 ef8 li tèc3 bô 12 h4 ib7 (D) Now White can post lus darksquared bishop on f4 as usual or choose another pattern of development whieh concentrales more on Oie centre now hat BIacic’s knight s tucked away on cl) Kindermann-Raupp. Gennan League 1981 took the convenlional path I 3 hS (if White intends to put the bishop on [4 he should mie out f8-g6) 13 td7 14 h6 gô 15 if4 and die knight was beginning to look niisplaced on f8 Conscious of his odd kingside Black tned to compensate in another sector of the board wHhu the nevilable 5 d4. but once again the newiy arr,ved d4-pawn had strayed (00 far There followed 16 €3xd4 cxd4 17 b5 aads 18 adl’ dxc4 9 dxc4 ..xg2 20 xg2 *c6+ 21 gl d3 22 Se4 éxe4 23 xe4 d7 24 d6 :ed8 We are tollowing Ramon-Urday, 1-lavana 1994 It ‘sclear that
KM vs Frencb Defence 61 25 64’ (White has lime to support bis enormOus knight die d-pawn s n°1 going anywhere) 25 f6 26 c5 wilb a decisive lead c2) 13 b3 ‘fd714 ib2 was Bronsteifl’S experiment againsi Plasketi in the strong Oviedo rapidplay 1993 White tempts d5-d4. after which White ‘sfrec £0 generate the kingside atlack without the inconvenience of active defence down the d-file 0f course he would then prefer to have the bishop on f4. but everytliing has ils price In faci durmg the nexi few moves hotu players placed a pawn on d4 14 radS 15 Ldl a6 16d4(D) B Such a standoif in Ihe centre s uncommon in these unes, though the pawn structure soon becomes more familiar 16 a5 17 dxc5 bxcs 18 ‘?g5d4 and Black finally obliged However the absence of white pawn on die d-file should keep Wbite on bis tocs As il was longterm piece sacrifice Ied (o complex siruggie afler 19 ce4 h6 White tunied down the simple 20 ‘D(followed by h4-h5 and reluming the bishop to the cl-h6 diagonal) in favour of 20 *hSi9 hxg5 21 hxg5 g6 22 *h4 .kxe4 23 ixe4 h7 24 f4 1fB 25 g2 1g7 26 h I with pressure down Lite h-file d) 9 f6 s a pretly drastic reaclion seen more frequently at club level IL ‘struc that 10 exfô €xf6 II c3 12 ‘IdI gains time and profits from the hole on d4, but Ibis ‘sflot as serious as the backward e-pawn, the hole on e5 (neglected by Blacks queen’s knight) and —(o some extent the e4-square (see ‘d2’)12 3xI3+ 13 ixf3 (D) Black bas littie to show for the weaknesses in bis position, for example dl) 3 dxc4 14 dxc4 4N47, Fuchs-Espig, Berlin 1968, begins clever manouevre which homes in on the d4-square However, Ibis is not enough £0 prevent White from obtaining Ihe better game 15 •e2 e5 16 1e4 4Xc6 17 fl4 *e8 (defending against 18 *h5 —by now Black mUst have realized that While’s big lead on the kingside aIlows him to virtually ignore the knight once il an-ives on d4) 18 Qb5 ‘d419 xd4 cxd4 20 teS etc
62 KIA j ç French Defence d2) 13 d4 at least keeps the epawn company (sort of) In SaleSusnik, Bled 1996. White made kIl use of the e4-square 14 e4 eS 15 e1 *c7 16 S.d2 f3 7 a3 1xe4 18 ..xe4 ixe4 19 Zxe4 f5 20 *e2 ad6 21 M wilh a good game 10 h4(D) In abc diagram position Black must decide on a sensible course of action Othenvise he is in danger of being blown away 10 h8 A tricky move Others a) 10 a6 II ..f4 fl8 begins an early queenside expansion Note (bat the c4-pawn slows Black considerably Rronstein-Kelly. Hastings 1995 s a model game 12 h2 4a5 13 td2 b5 14 b3 ib7 15 .h3 bxc4 16 bxc4 ec6 17 €\g4 .a8 18 f3 M 19 g5 Having a band of enemy pieces gathering in froni of your king ‘sdisconcerting on a good day extremely wonying when sitting opposile Bronstein Kelly pots bis faith in the b-file 19 *1,6 20 ig2 b2 21 ‘fdl*a5 22 ie4 g6 23 *13 *c7 and now Ihe energelic veteran moved in for the kili with 24 h6+ g7 25 ehxfl €kxe5 26 txe6+ xf7 27 ixe5+ xe6 28 ids-f’ ixd5 (D) Black resigned without waiting for the end One possible finish is 29 cxd5+ xe5 30 ael+ d6 31 e6 mate b) 10 *c7 Il kf4 b6 12 4bd2 .b7 13 ae I Le8 Hracek-Rasik, Karvina 1989 Blacks compact completion of development seems too good to be tnie White shows the way 14 €e4’ (D) OnIy by over-protecting the e5-pawn can Wh,Ie Ihen mockrngly leave il en prise’ If you fail to becorne acquainted with the number of situations in which t s possible to tease Black in this way. then you wiII miss ont on a great posling for yoor knight(s) 14 ecxes Fortunately for us, Black jnmps ai the chance to remove abc annoying pawn and. b his credit lie has w t s 11k Ail P4*ulÀI II rAApsg B B s.”.,’ aarus I •t4 04/ SAf1fl
KM vs Fresch Defence 63 checked the implications reasonably well Uracelc bas seen further —15 exe5 exes 16 th5’ Sometimes While regains the pawn by clearing the e-file with ‘2e4xc5,but Ibis form of attack ‘svery effective indeed because the queen is worïylngly close to Black’s king Blocking his fourth rank with 16 f5? oses to 17 ixe5 txes 18 tègs (note that by leaving (lie e-file White’s queen bas introduced tins extra possibihty ot a discovered attack), so Black’s nexi s forced 16 f6 17 tg5’ fxg5 18 ixes *d7 19 hxg5 axg2 20 txg2 (D) B The smoke bas cleared (almost) and White s weII ahead 11e even continues to be in control of 11w e5-square, thanks b the wonders of overproteclion1 I would guess that Black calculated beyond this poini before initiating the long, complex sequence which followed 1w capture of the e5-pawn lis next few moves are designed to distrac Wh,te from the h-file —20 g6” for example oses on the spot b 21 txh7t’ xh7 22 hI+ g8 23 h8+ f7 24 rh7+ g8 25 Mg7+ h8 26 h1 mate Thus he playe4 20 àcô± 21 e4 f5 and now Black ihreatens to take on eS and g5 wbile 22 h1 (ails to 22 h6 Ironically il s the f-file which proves to be Blacks undoing The game cont,nued 22 (4 (threa(enrng 23 g4 tf7 [23 Zff8 24 hlj 24 I g6 25 txg6+’ etc) 22 kxgs (the point) 23 fxg5 Now 23 :xes’ 24 f7-i- h8 25 4f8+ mates, but ‘tseems that Rasik Md sedo even this 23 g6 24 *h6 axeS 25 f7’ but flot this’ White ‘swmning After 25 xf7 26 txh7+ ffi 27 *hS+ e7 28 *xo5 White went on £0 pick up the g6-pawn and the game e) b f6 Il exf6 exf6 12 g5 eS 13 1d2 ifS 14 €4e4 Mencinger-Donk, Groningen 1994 White benefits (rom the central pawn configuration being tixed Fie bas the e4-square, a gnp on the light squares and on the hl-a8 diagonal, and the c4-pawn covers dS II if4 f6 This is Lite dea behind the puzzling 10 h8 Whiae’s usual answer to the challenge by the fpawn is to take on f6, after which the occupation of e4 and/or eS ‘senough for an advantage FI etc Black intends b recapture with t1w pawn(12 exf6 gxf6’), for 13 xeô ‘sno longer check, winch means Black has time for the nasty 13 de5 Consequently White bas £0 seule for another game-plan and cave Ihe eS-pawn n place, but w,th several pieces eager to support il, this should be a pleasant option 12 ebd2 tes Preparing to activate the queen on g6 or hS and vacating d8 in order 10 facilitate a second push of the fpawn The game would assume different character with an exchange of pawns —12 fxeS and White gains a clear advantage rcgardless of which minor piece lie decides to keep on the board t in
64 KM vs French Defence a) 13 ixe5 aI) 13 dxe5 l4xe5xe5 15 ‘xe5id6 16 *e2 The knight wiIl be busier than the dark-squared bishop and we do not have to compare he monster on g2 with piece on c8 a2) 13 f5 needs to be checked because ‘tshakes the grip on eS 14 if4 eS 15 .g5 h6 16 £xe7 *xe7 17 aeI and, apart from lagging behind in development, Black is Lied b the backward e-pawn and can do nohing about bis opponent’s control ofe4 b) 13 xe5 tècxe5 14 .axe5 f5 (14 €xe5is ai’) i5I3 13 .h3 White 100, 8 happy £0 close (ht position shil flu-ther, so he helps Black make up bis mmd 13 15(D) w An nterestmng situation has arisen If one of the ideas in (ho %‘e2 une ‘s‘owin control of the crucial e4-square while denying Black an ou(post ol bis own wi(h an early c2-c4, Ihen employing the same spoiling tactics with a pawn on f5 must be scen as some sort of mini victory for Black The cmx of (ho matter s whether or flot White’s trademark selup ‘ssufficiently flex,bIc io deal with the changed pawn stuacture and subsequentiy provide White with an alternative way of inaintaining a iead 14 tg5 kds Now we sec why Black chose to put bis queen on e8 before fixing 11w pawn on 15 15 .kgz h6 16 @h3 In view of what happens in the game t s better for Black 10 avo,d die cnpplrng of bis pawns and move ibe knight ouI of the finng Irne, e g 16 ‘e717 h5 ‘?Xb818 1(3 ebc6, ahhough 19 g2 does keep Black in a bind 17 .axc6! bxc6 (D) w Perhaps Black underestimated Ibis exchange Whfles light-squared b,shop s such an mportant piece in the KIA (bat t s easy for both players not b notice fliose occasions when the biggest contribution reqrnres an ex,t from the game Howtin in this particular case (lie locked pawns niroduce possibilities flot normaily associated with Ihese hues, and giving up a certain influence on ihe light squares s worth the permanent damage b Blacks qucenside pawns II s not as if the c8-bishop wiII suddenly spring into the game —with pawns stock on c6 zinuzg t ,4rjn
KIA vs French Defence 65 apd e6, combined with the rock solid pawn on ç4, the bishop ‘smiserable la hS! A necessary part of Wh,te’s strategy ‘StO contain any irntating counterplay The Érade on c6 has left Black with liltIe hope ofmounting qucenside offensive —only the Ionely rpawn can move’ —and with Éhe advance of Oie ever faithftul h-pawn White prevents flic march or uniled front of enemy foot soldiers Nov g?-g5 nins mb h5xg6. when White is perfectly safe on the g-file and Black ‘snet on Ihe h-file Consequently White is free b organize a kingside aflack but lie does need to manoeuvre accurately Blacks defence ‘safforded some krnd of solidity just from the closed nature of Éhe position 18 19 g2 S.d7 20 h1 aS? A show of aggressmon when 20 1e7 followed by bringing the desperate bishop (via eS) to f7 would have been more appropriate 21 €gI Whmle begins ‘oregroup 21 Again Black should 21 *e7221ZdflkeS 22 dfl 23 *c2 24 €e2 25 id2 26 f4 27 aeI According b Dolmatov White s wmnning Ii s just a malter of mmproving the pieces 10 Iheir optimum 27 28 tdt! .g5D) In answer b 28 g59 White has 29 h4 because the h5-pawn is defended 29 xg5 29 hxg5’ 30 tiNgs+ xg6 3! hxg6 S’xg6 32 h5 w.ns for White 30 b3! Let us flot forget thal Black bas sinictural problems on the qucenside, too lis latesi worry ‘sthe prospect of *dI-cl-a3, hitiing die defenceless c5-pawn 30 Qh7 31 leI Cf8 32 f3! Finally threatening b break through w,th g3-g4 32 Despite having just corne from there, perhaps 32 eh? s safer, intending 33 g4 fxg4 34 fxg4 g5 35 hxg6 xg6 when one rook defeflds along the second rank and die other gives White somelbing 10 won>’ about on Oie g-file 0f course White does n°1 have to commit himself mmmediately. which is probably why Black was reluclant ‘oreturn the krnght 10 h7, but afler the text he is evefi legs adequately equipped b deal with Ihe coming push 33 g4! fxg4 34 fxg4 a4 35 5! hxg5 36 g6+ ‘h737 .txg5 axb3 38 axb3 .xg6 w r% enuin *IICI*4 11*1*1 À ,vjj*. ‘A’ïa*rflconsider .e8 *d7 *e8 a7
66 KIA .w French Defence 39 hxg6+ 40 *dI!(D) opponents If you intend including We2 n your armoury ‘tis worth inxg6 vestigating the move order a) 2 1e7 Putting (ht qucen on the c-file at the earliesl opporlunity is aimed at 2 d5, when 3 exds forces Black to take back with Ihe qucen The text unpins abc e6-pawn In Vasiukov-Volkov, Moscow 1995, Black lr,ed b exploit abc early development of White’s qucen 3 g3 d54d3 dxe45 dxe4bô 6 Nf3 1a6 7 c4 (D) White’s use of the queen bas been remarkable Ibis piece bas been a major influence throughout Ihe game, combining prophylaxis wilh Ibreals, yet ‘tbas moved only five limes in total, venturing no furlher than e2 and c2’ The amusing and decisive point Lo the final contribution from the queen is that after 40 txg5 Wh,tc’s king gels a taste of the action, stepping forward with 4! g3’ 10 threalen the deadly 42 Ég4 mate 40 41 42 43 Now a look al Blacks early alter natives in die te2 inc Glek-Granda Zirniga W;jk acm Zee 1997 I e4 e6 2 d3 More in keeping with the KM repertoire The immediate 2 *e2 caR transpose b normal unes but bas the potential ‘oconfuse The early skirmish bas virtually forced Wh,le to weaken Ihe d4-square, but die veteran (3M and KIA expert demonslrates that this ‘sflot a problem for Wh,te as long as he s open-mrnded 7 tùc6 8 €c3 b4 9 d2 es ioo-o-o’ d4 II tixd4 exd4 12 d5 .txd2+ 13 xd2 c6 (13 c5 defends the dpawn but leaves abc knight dominatmg, meanwhile While’s mobile kingside pawn majority s free £0 advance) l4ef4€e7 l5S’dl and Black’s expeument bd failed as 15 eS oses 1016 a4+ b) 2 f6 isa provocative choice borrowed from the Alekhrne Defence 3eS bI)3 ed54end6sd4eel6 h4b67k3d58*dl (D) Or *f4 38 a2+ 39 g3 iN 40 B Ii 7O4M1U 7% ‘n,.».B g3 xhS fl I aa2+ “kgI-o
KM vs French Defence 67 The transformation has continued, steering us £0 3 French Both sides have wasted moves, resultrng in White gaining a tempo EhlvestVaganian, Novgorod 1995, went 8 1a6 (8 c5 9 e2 ta6 10 c3 1Zbc6 II h5)9.xa6’txa6 IOee2 td7 II ç3 ç5 12 *d3 tb8 13 h5 h6 14 id2 Qbc6 15 €3f4 a5 16 0-0 with Wh.te having a territorial advanlage that ‘slypical of Ihese unes b2)3 “g84f4b65”?1f3ib76g3 18 a typical example of Vaganian’s originality Vas,ukovVaganian, USSR Ch 1980 5 one of those games in which the Armernan causes bis own downfall —6hS 7 d4 c5 8 dxcs kxc5 9 ke3 h6 10 kxcs bxc5 Il ‘tc3f5 12 0-0-0 and Black was way too far behind in devclopment c) 2 eS 3 4k6 4 g3 should normaily Iead us back to familiar ground Sepp-Makovetsky, Novgorod 1995, look a more individual course after 4 d6 5 1g2 eS 6 c3 g5” (D) It is vital flot b 6e unsettled by opponents who mistakenly v,ew White’s kingside fianchetto as unambitious and consequently tTy a bit of intimidation with such a cheeky assau I t The game went 7 d3 h6 8 h4 g4 9 Qh2 h5 10 f3 Bis nice to see Black berng pumshed by sensible play and a strike against his over-exlended pawns Now 10 gxf3 Il ixf3 ‘f612 .tg5 favours Wh,te, while 10 eh6 II .xh6 xh6 12 fxg4 hxg4 13 Ixg4 g6 14 1h3 lefi White a clear pawn up 2 d5 3 àe2 f6 4 f3 b6 4 aims for easy development at the cost of a tempo a) GIek-Visser. Netherlands 1997, is typical 5 g3 dxe4 6 dxe4 eS 7 ..g2 1c5 8 0-0 0-0 9 h3’ (improving on 9 bd2 b6) 9 1e6 (also possible are 9 b6’ ami 9 h6’9 remember to compare this with Delkhodja-Crouch) 10 c3 aS II bd2 8e8” (better is Il ‘d712 c4 with an edge 10 White) and now White put his queen £0 good use with 12 S’bS’ .kb6 13 xe5 *g5’ 14 dt3 *xg3 15 xc6 (15 *xb6 *xg2#) 15 bxc6 16 *eS’ Trading queens leif Black clearly worse, so he should have Iimited White to slight advantage after 16 *g6 17 àh4*f6 18tg3’ b) More recently White has done weIl with the uncompromismg 5 B w zr,ne*taz titi rAÂri4À fltflu! ‘trn
68 KIA vs French Defence es”, which was first played in Yudasin-Komarov, Reggio Emilia 1997 5 d76g3(D) B With bis c-pawn obsructed by the knight Dlack’s ophons are Iimited bi) 6 f6 is the themalic response. contesting the centre early belote bas managed to consolidate bis gnp on e5 Afier 7 exf6 xf6 the simple 8 .g2 (White should res’st hitting the e-pawn since 8 .h3 eS 9 .kxc8 *xc8’ i0tZxe5d4’ Il *dl Sf5 backfires) 8 kd6 9 d4 0-0 10 0-0 favours White, who bas more space and the better pawn structure b2) li ‘ssignificant that Komarov assessed ‘bi’as beng good for White —hence bis choice in the game —6 b6 Again Wh,te oh- tains the better gaine by concentrating on his opponent’s rather cramped kingside The game went 7 .g2 kb7 8 0-0 1e7 9 h4 a5 (w,thout play on the queenside Black bas nothing at ail) 10 e1 a4 li a3 h6 12 h5 3c5 13 bd2 1a6 14 *e3 *d7 15 bl’ and White was threatening to challenge on the queenside 5 eS tifd7 5 €g8 s flot as negative as il seems, as the knight is being sent —in anticipation of c2-c4 from White to attack the d4-square in the game Psakhis-Skoinorokh,n, Vienna 1996, White chose not to ht too amb,tious and anstead was content with a slight edge 6 g3 c5 7 kg2 4k6 8 0-0 ege7 9 c4 1f5 10 4ic3 cd4 (D) li xd4 a) Afta il ‘xd412 Idi k57 13 cxd5 exd5 Wh,te s flot troubled by the knight on d4, and bas a comfortable Iead after 14 f4 or 14 ie3 Black s behind in development and has a weak dS-pawn b) Consequently Black chose II cxd4 12 €3b1 .&b7 13 d2 kel 14 cxd5 ..xd5 15 ixds *xd5 16*e4”,when 16 txe4 l7dxe4 forces the knight to h6 and leaves the d4-pawn stranded lnstead 16 d8 17 M3 0-0 18 id2 d7 I9fcl gave Wbitean edge 6 3 cS 7 .2 ie7 8 h4(D) B zaiflrA z * Sauts I t in
KIA vs French Defence 69 Always be at&t to lite possibility of g7-g5 Fortunately the h-pawn ‘san integral pan of White’s opening and middlegame strategy anyway and van be pushed almosi automativally 8 €c6 9 c4 In view ofwhat Black has in mmd I would suggest that 9 d4 s preferable sce Psakhis-Sm,rin dxc4 10 dxc4 II O-O *c7 No prizes for guessing where Black intends to put bis king In any case the eS-pawn is as unwelcome as usual in Black’s half of he board, and White enjoys the luxury of being able te give bis knight a more aggressive posting than the fradi(ional d2 12 ir4 flefore castiing queenside Black sends bis knight over to the kingside on a mission b chase or capture Whites dark-squared bishop The immediate 12 0-0-0 invites 13 c3 a6 14 d5” wh,ch looks very dangerous. while even 14 adl is aiready difficuit for the defender 13 e1! (D) flic exact order of Wh,tes moves is important here Obviously the black knight is about to land on g6 to hit the bishop, but White bas only one way ofdealing with Ibis which guaranbees him the better game For example the firsl choice, 13 h5, does n°1 have the dcsired effect, for afler 13 h6 Whitc cannot prevent g7-g5’ 13 €46 14 id2! Over-protecting the e-pawn telcased the bishop from defensive duty, leaving White free to evici the knight al his convenience White has calculated thal the bishop wilI flot be a liability on Ibe d-file once Black has castlcd long 14 O-04 The coasi s clear —for the moment al leasi —now that Whites bishop bas boen forced to retreal Addressing the threat on (lie kingside by occupying (ho hS-square with bis own pawn does not solve Blacks problems, cg 14 h5 15 a3 a6 16 €c2 followed by a2-a3 and b2-b4, when Dlack’s king wiil have trouble finding a safe haven 15 tj3! White shows that lie has confidence in bis position, believing that he wiIl gel the better of o complex stniggle Given bis terntonal superiority in a relatively safe pawn structure Ibis is hardly o brave decision The alternative is to propose series oU exchanges from winch White emerges with a safe lead This s init.ated by huting the knight —15 liS egxes’ (15 Qf8 16 c3 a6 Ieads back £0 Ihe game) 16 tixc5 tZxe5 (16 txeS’ 17 kxc6) 17 ixb7+ xb7 18114’ (18 txc5 àxe5 19 xe5 if6 s no’ sa clear) 18 f608 .d6 19€k3’) 19.&xe5 fxe5 20 o3 and Wh,te bas en edge due to bis supenor minor piece and the potential largets in Blacks pawn 9 B 41* ifS t/tjS4 s t
70 KIA vy Fi-cisc!, Defence structure, though lie should be carefui n°1 W let Black ‘nonthe d-file 15 a6 15 gxe5 here runs mb 16 exe5xe5 17eb5 16 hS! Perfeci timing 16 QMS Necessary Taking on es shIl works ont ‘nWhite’s favour, e g 16 t2gxe5 17 ixe5 xe5 18 ixb7-t- lÉxb7 (18 xb7 19 Sf4) 19 4’xes axd2 20 *xg7 flfs 21 e4 foliowed by removing the h7-pawn, alter which White’s passed h-pawn s unleashed 17 f4 h6(D) Despite Biacks efforts 40 evict the bishop il bas returned to its favourite spot. adding weight to Whute’s daim on the d6-square In order *0 achieve this White bas had b advance bis h-pawn, which in turn opens the door for Black *0 finaliy drum up some counterplay wilh g7-gS, the thematic thnist has been work,ng for since decmderng to castle queenside Development completed, and welI aware of Black’s coming kingside stnke, White has no lime (o waste 18 î)e4 19 €idé+! Lxd6 20 exd6 White’s mosi important in Ihe KIA s rewarded with another star- ring role If t is annoying for Black on e5, think of the damage il can cause on d6’ Black is about to suifer on the dark squares 20 *d7 21 te5 21 €e5 s also possible, with a clear advanlage to White With the text White wishes to keep bis flexible krnghl for use in generating an attack on the queenside, where Blacks king cover looks susceptible 1° a pawn-break 21 g8 2! ‘22xe522 exe5 *e8 23 ixb7+ xb7 24 *f3 etc 22 Sf6 g4 23 d2 €d4 Black fights for survival, hoprng 1° lima the power of Wh,te’s assault by eliminating a couple of key pieces In tact Oie eventual prising open of the queenside s inevitable, e g 23 e8 24 M’ and Black will be unable 40 keep unes of entTy closed 0f course White can break through only by giving up a pawn or two 24 25 26 27 w titras sa fi AIS ixd4 xg2 c5 4?gI Sxg2 cxd4 bxc5 (D) w •/ptd/ z J p u
tUA vs French Defence 71 11e only important feature of the diagram posihon s the the safety of the kings Black’s s ‘nmuch danger, whereas the wh,te king is iucked away Nevertheless this situation could quickly change with jusi one lapse ( g8-gsxhs-hI mate ‘sunlikely but stiil there) As s aiways the case the aggressor needs to maintain the momentum Here the pawns on a6 and eS are what ‘slefi of Blacks defensive shield 28 ee4 28 M’ ‘smuch sironger because Uie text s flot really necessary whereas Black’s nexi ‘suseful White’s only objective s to open une down which 1° invade, leaving Black with the unenviable decision of which one fle text gives Black valuable lime 28 d7 29 recl 30 b4! The correct path, but perhaps Wh,te s too laie for the full point 30 cxb4 31 ac7 *bS Again Black pins his hopes on exchanging anackers 31 ‘lWb632 acl looks awful but s flot absoluIeIy clear, though I would prefer b be siiting on Whites side of the board 32 xb5+ axb5 33 fI ç’D,) B The mating attack continues eveTi after the disappearance oC most of Whit&s army’ Black’s king s ‘ndanger of being trapped by the eager rooks 33 ‘e533 f3’ dots enough to save the draw, eg 34 :xb4 b6’. when Black thrcatens to undenn,ne the c7-rook by removing Ihe defender on d6 Therefore White bas nothmg better than 35 c6 tb7 36 ;cl+ with a repaition of moves 34 :,5! Not 34 Lb4’ axd6’ 34 Losrng There ‘ssuch a thin une between one result and another (I speak from experience’), and ‘nihis case Black could have saved the game w,th 34 i3f3+’ e g 35 g2 (35 L’fl txd6’ 36 xd6 d2+, or 35 hl a7 36 xM c8’ and White’s own king ‘sno longer immune) 35 a7’ 36 xM eI+’ 37 tfl Q2id3 35 Lbs+ a7 36 b3! 37 a4! bxa3 38 f6+ L’a7 Or 38 a5 39 b7 39 b7+ 39 ‘a84O7b540 3b6+ a5 41 d2I l-O Black Plays ..1d6 and ...ge7 Black has also tried keep,ng watch over the cntical e5-square by developing the king’s bishop on d6 In combmation with 4g8-f6 dus would be asking for trouble as White bas the dangerous threat of advancing e4-e5 £0 fork the iwo minor pleces Consequently e7 ‘sa good square for the krnghl, when future ie7-g6 adds further p4 /y’14 8/ÀJ/4 iF4k A 4,fj .‘& s, ri ‘r
72 KM vs French Defence pressure ‘oeS To this end, there is also Ihe possibiliiy of f7-f6 Mortensen-U.Nlelsen Vejle 1994 I e4 eS 2 €f3 e6 3 d3 4c6 4 g3 d5 5 Zbd2 id6 6 g2 €1ge7 7 0-0 0-0 8 e1 *c7 For 8 .ac7 sec Vudasin-Luther, below WiLh the toM Black brings third piece to monitor eS Another way *0 do this s with 8 f6 The slight weakening of e6 and ihe a2-g8 diagonal s not too ser,ous, alihough n 50mo cases Black would prefer *0 retum Ihe pawn (o f7 a) 9 exdS exds 10 d4’’ aims *0 create a targel in Ihe shape of the isolated or backward d5-pawn Black must also keep an eye on (ho e6-square Taking on d4 (or allowing d4xc5) cedes die d4-square and the d-file, go 10 c4 is virlually forced, aller wliich Bancod-Szakolczai, Lenk 1993, continued II b3 cxb3 12 axb3 tg4 13 fl 4’b6 14 c3 ac8 15 e3 with only a slight edge to While due 1° bis belter pawn formation b) More in keeping w.th (bis vanalion s 9 c3 bI)9 éc7 10d4’9cxd4 II cxd4 tb4 12 eS fxe5 13 dxe5 .c5 14 eb3 1,6 15 a3 tLa6 16 bd4 worked oui weII for White in the gaine Zolnierowicz-Haha, Pardubice 1994 b2) 9 .d7 10 a3 as” (for 10 *cl Il *e2 see die note b Whites lOth move) II d4 cxd4 12 exd5 (D) Initiabing a central skirmish with d3-d4 does seem ‘obe an effective Ireatment of Ibis position The pawn on f6 1g n°1 really appropriate any more B We are following Ljubojevic-De la Villa Garcia, Pamplona 1996 Now 12 dxc3Iosesto I34k4and 12 xd5 13 tZàe4 ie7 14 cxd4 leaves Black cramped, so there followed 12 exd5 13 4xd4 exd4 14 cxd4 S%6 15 €b1’ with a pull for White in a risk-free position While Black stands only a little worse in these mes t is logical (o avoid any potentmal suffering caused by nudgmg ihe f-pawn forward h is worth trymng to complebe development wmbhoul crealing unnecessary weaknesses, defending eS wibh a pawn only aller White bas speni time increasmng bis own influence on die key square 9 c3 d7 10 ai Preparing lypical queenside expansion 10 *e2 continues *1w fight for es Then after 10 f6 Il a3 Black basa choice a) Il ae8 12b4b6 13d4’(D) Thms position arose in FischerDiCamillo, Fasi Orange 1957 Blacks solid inc of pawns Iacks flexibility, restriciing die defender ‘oa waiiing game, and when the challenge does corne While will inevitably enjoy more space in which to operate “.txt.•ÀIfl4 as s I L li I
KM vs French Defence 73 B 13 cxd4 14 cxd4 dxe4 15 xe4 d5 16 .b2 *b8 17 efd2 and now Black made bis uncoinfortable posilion much worse with 17 Zid8’ 18 exdô *xd6 19 bS’ jc8 20 a4 éd7 21 ia3 etc Notice how While gradually expanded on the queenside, beginning with the Ihematic I 2 M b) I I as rules ou’ the desired b2-b4 but leaves a hole on bS in the proccss Consequenily Smilh and Halls 12 a4i looks like Ihe rnost punishing Iong-ienn response, when the crafïy idea of returning the queen’s knight b base on bi on the way (o a3 will remind Black of bis posilional tarelessness bi) 12 rfes 13 €bl Lb8 14 ea3 ‘2a715 .Lh3’’ (dont forget 11w potential habilily on e6) 15 ‘g6I6d4(D)B [bis inove is becoming a familiar feature Despite bis prophylactic approach Black s shIl busy trying (o cover the small but noticeable cracks in bis position bu) Best now s 16 cxd4 17 xd4 dxe4 (17 eS9 18 txd7 txd7 19 €db5 highlights the sigrnficance of the b5-square, but 17 ..c5’’ is playable) 18 *xe4 tf8 when Black is passive but flot badly off Once again (ho f6-pawn ‘smore of a hindrance than a help b12) lnstead of the practical 16 cxd4 the game KomliakovDumitrache, Bucharest 1995, saw Black mistake (ho diagram position for Ihe beginning of a complex middlegame from which he could sleal the initiative Unfortunately. in his arnbitious assessmenl of the subsequent battie Black faiIe 10 appreciate the consequences of withdraw- ing the support of the dS-pawn 16 eS l7.xd7I’xd7 18 dxc5 ixcS 19 d1’ *g4 (19 éxa4 invites trouble on the r file, e g 20 axds b6 2! M’) 20 xd5 kxa3 21 xa3 and now Black resorted b the unsettling 2 I ‘h4,but afier the cairn 22 1id4 *h3 23 gxh4 exd4 24 cxd4 *xh4 25 f3 Ihe attack’ had fizzled out and he was back to Ihe reality of being a pawn down for nothing b2) 12 ae8 13 ebl dxe4 4 dxe4 eS 15 tZa3 a7 16 dI 1e6 17 tZd2 ‘ec818 eac4 with an easy game for White, Lagrottena-KieveI ,tz, Forii 1992 Black has nothing ‘oshow for (ho bobs on b5 and dS. prompting White rn accenluale his opponenl’s trouble on die light squares —IX d8 19 ee3 €b6 20 1Zdc4 xc4 21 1xc4 1î3c8 22 jf3i je? 23 axds xdX 24 1g4 etc • .Ix*II I *1% AL g nn’ p4 *ni z i•*u asn As s ‘tFA flri*r
74 KIA vs French Dejence e) I I aacs is Zapata-Lautier, Novi Sad Olympiad 1990 White played the odd 12 b3”, when 12 kb6 forced the knight back to d2 Iautier offers 12 M b5 with equality, which seems like a reasonable evaluation, though 13 exds exd5 14 bxc5 kxc5 15 c4 puis the onus on Black to prove that —yet again While cannol make 100 much ofthe permanent weakness on eô 10 bS 10 aacs” Il ée2 f6 transposes to e’ in ihe note 10 WhiIe’s IOth Inove B 11 d4!? (D) It s imperative that White injects some venon, into bis game before Black simply takes over the queenside KIA players tend 10 be guilty of playing 100 quietly in the laIe opening/early middlegame stage, when really there ‘splenly of scope for While 10 profil from bis flexible setup by pushing one or more of bis centre pawns Here White ‘shappy to accept an isolated d-pawn in retom for more space and, ironically, grip on Éhe queenside The point is that with 11w aggressive 10 b5 Black negiected the c5-square, and now White car. seek 1° exploit this important feature because two 0f bis pawns are ready b ciamp down on the potenlial entry point Also worth consideration are Il *e2 f6 12 d4 and II b4” li cxd4 12 nd4 dx 13 exe4 eds The price that White has had w pay for his extra temtory and planned occupation of 05 s 11w surrender of the dZ-square From Ibis safe haven directly in front of Ihe isolated pawn Black’s knighl keeps watch aeross a sizeabje section of the playing arena, forcing White ‘opay particular attention before embarking on any plans which involve making irrevocable posirronai concessions One factor wInch dots favour Wh,te s the location of tkie black bishops, gettrng ‘nthe way on the d-111e so that al easl Black ‘sunable to exert uncomfortable pressure on the d-pawn —an Inconvenience wInch often proves toc much of distraction in IQP situations 14 kdz fd8 15 Zcl 1e8 16 1,4 Mortensen decides that it s stiil correct to persevere with Ihe original tempting strategy of creatrng an outpost behind enemy lines 0f course t was necessaiy to weigb up the consequences of planhng hie pawn on b4 c3 and c4 suddcnly become targets for Blacks pieces. as does die b-pawn itself after a timely a7-aS Ii is crucial now that White make the most of bis pluses in order 10 put bis opponent under maximum pressure and thus prevent an unfortunate reversai of roles *1,6 16 ‘7?ic5 (D)
fCfAvsFrenchDefence 75 B Whfte has rnanaged ‘owin the tirs; senous battle of Die game, something which bnngs with ‘tan important psychological significance Note that the d4-pawn —which bas thus far been perfectly safe from atiack on the d-file supports e5 as well as c5 Combined with Oie king’s rook and knighl this gins While control of e5 ami the k,ngside (o add to his ostensibly won gnp wilh the queen’s rook ami knight on the other wing Bang contained on both sides ofthe board ‘snot a pleasant prospect and, believing that bis inipressive knight on dS s flot getting the action it deserves, Black endeavours to break mit with a perfectly natural move 17 aS? At first glance il s difficult 10 appreciate why this ‘sa irnstake I would guess diat most titled players would suggest this thrust if asked b find Blacks besl continuation In the diagram position The b4-pawn s attacked (and subsequently 11w fartiung knight s being undermined), White’s attention is drawn away hom the kingside (where Black, you w.ll notice, does nol have too many defenders) and Black even bas a rook ready to get w work on the a-file Surpnsingly White s better equipped to deal with this challenge on bis qucenside, ami (lie answer ‘s(o be found on Oie olber side of the board 18 bxa5 xa5 Notice chat ihe capture on as bas drawn the krnght far, far away from the kingside IL soon becomes clear that with Oie cairn 17 ±e7or 17 ..f8 Black would have rernained uncomfortably cramped but would have been much boiter prepared w deal with o kingside slnke 19 egs! Not having to be concemed about threa(s to his d-pawn or a liberating pawn break gives While the luxury of being able w switch bis attack from one area to another Settng up camp on c5 was flot necessarily directed at generatrng queenside play —Oie e6-pawn s suddeniy under intense scrutiny 19 h6 Forcing the issue by challenging Wh.te to enter a new, brutal phase of the garne by sacrificing on e6, as Oie outcome s by no means clear Anyway, the texi bas more appeal Ihan Ilie alternatives a) 19 1e7 20 gxe6’ fxe6 21 xe6 ta7 (2 I d6 22 kxd5) 22 kxas éxa5 (22 ixcs 23 lxdg xdS 24 xc5) 23 ixds Zxd5 24 xe7 b) 19 S.fS 20 ‘gxe6’fxe6 21 :xe6 àc6 (21 *a7 22 xe8 xe8 23 .&xd5+ h8 24 ..xa8) 22 xeS xe8 23 ixd54 24 €d7 c) fle only way b prevent hie sacrifice on e6 is by removing one ofhheknights— 19 ixc52Odxc5 àc7 21 Wc2 g6 22 €e4 with a clear advantagc 20 4gxe6 fxe6 21 Qhe6(D)
76 KM vs French Defence 21 21....tts 22 xd8 td5+ axd5 24 xe8. 22 ixh6! White continues (o strip away Black’s kingside defences. There s no hurry to win back the invested material by taking Ofle of the rooks. In fact White’s pieces are doing so welI they should stay in the game as long as possible, Note the ease with which they siol into place. Now 22...xh6 runs mb 23 ixas :xas 24 Wt3 a7 25 txfô, so instead Black tries to keep what is loft of bis king’s shield intact. 22 ... a7 23 igs 1h5 With ail Ihe excitement we almos! forgot that White’s queen has yet 10 0m in die action, and the texi prevents entry for die moment al Ieast b the kingside. Afier 23...b8 for example, 24 .txf6 gxf6 25 *g4+ h8 26 9b4-+ g8 27 *xf6 leaves (lie black king with no support, and White even bas a collection ofpawns for die iece. 24 .tf3 ‘f7Mission accomplished, die bishop returns to base. Trading is inconsisieni: 24...ixf3 25 *xf3 dd7 (25...e8 26 ixf6 gxffi 27 *g4t wins for White because Ilie rook will be hanging on et) 26 lxf6 gxf6 27 c8-*-. 25 .kxf6 p16 26 xd8 WxdS 27 ihs Making way —tinally for the queen to deliver the killer blow, 27 ... .xa3 28 *g4+ h7 Otherwise White pins the queen. 29 ixf7 xfl 29,,,ixcl 3Og6+. 30 c8 *d7 31 *1.5+ g7 32 h8 I-0 Vudasin-Luther Leningrad 1989 I e4 e6 2 di dS 3 d2 eS 4 gfl c6 5 g3 .d6 6 igz t?ge7 The drawback of Black’s setup is that ho is restricted somewhat in flexibility of development. and the lack of influence on e4 in tom gives White more choice of how to continue. 7 0-0 0-0 s ai Also possible s S h4 followed by 9 f4, as in the game DolmatovLauher, below. S ... ic7 Black does flot want to be troubled by a future e4-eS push. and from c7 the king’s bishop may more safely observe eS, 9 c3 Another alternative is 9 exd5 exd5 10 c3, although Ibis would restrici White’s choices and unleash tlie black queen’s bishop. In the game Kaidanov-Motwani, Dublin 1991, White advanced both bis wing pawns as far as (bey could go: 9 h4!? eS 10 exd5 €xd5 li Zç4 ig4 12 c3 tb6 13 *c2 e8 14 B f6 axds 23
KL4vsFrenckDefence 77 t?e3..d7 15a4h6 l6a54ic8 17a6 b6 18 h5 with an unclear position. Sucb a policy as Kaidanov’s aiways runs the risk of wasting four or five moves, afler which Black may simpiy ignore the far-flung pawns and concentrate on play in the centre. Note that 9 eS? eg6 rounds up the e-paWfl. 9 ... d4!? Less ambitious alternatives are 9,. .b6 and 9.. f6. 10 tb3 1,6 lO...ib6? is flot al ail n keeping with the spirit of the variation, since the bishop wîll have made several rnoves la reach this poor square. II eS White does flot relish being in a cramped position resultîng from ...e6-e5. II ... :bs The rook must vacate flic hi -a8 diagonal. 12 cxd4 cxd4 13 1g5 3 h4 cornes to mini intending h4-hS and perhaps even h5-h6. Afier 3...46 White could continue 14 16 gxe5 15 bxd4, or try the more bmtal 14 tig5 with the idea of 15 *h5. 13 fleS! 3 ...ib7 al once Ioses the d-pawn afler 14 ixe7 and 15 €bxd4. 14 c1 b7 15 rc4!? An interesting waste’ of a tempo, putting so much pressure on the enemy d-pawn that Black must create a hole on c5 in order to keep j:. White also has a worthy and probabiy belter —alternative in 15 g4, providing a home for the queens bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal affer a subsequent .cl-f4, over-protecting the e-pawn. Now 17 ixe7 xe7 18 ecs Ses (or 18. SaS) is siightly better for Black, as is 17 5d2 g6 18 €3c5 leS 19 a6 ixa6 20 xc6 1b7. White Iherefore throws down ihe gauntlct and leaves his bishop on g5. 17 €c5!? .ta8 The passive 17..,1c8 falis in with White’s plans: ig ih4I followed by bringing the queen tO f4 or queenskie expansion with a2-a3 and b2-b4 is better for White, Incidentally White need not fear 18...g5 as 19 SxgS hxgs 20 4hg5 gives him an advanlage. 18 ea6!? While continues to follow the complicaled coulse, Unwise wouid be 18 .&xe7 :xe7 19 a6 c8 20 4xc7 exc7, leaving ail of Blacks forces wonderfiilly placed. 1* hxg5! A risky capture, perhaps, but more promising than l8...Zc8 19 xc7 xc7 20 5d2, when White bas a clear advantage thanks to his potentially active and unchailenged dark-squared bishop. 19 Q3xgS g6! 15 16 c1 bS h6! (D) w
78 KIA vs French Defence Otherwise 20 *1,5 signais die end. 20 Sg4 (D) B The game is now reaching boiling point. 20 ‘ixb8would be the first of a sequence of exchanges decisively favourable b White afler 20.. .txb8 21 *13 tIxe5 22 *xa8 ixd3 23 :xc7 •xa8 24 ..xaS QxeI 25 xa7. However, 21...f8 should help hold Blacks gaine together, allhough 22 *g4!? does maintain the pressure. This une could be White’s best try for advantage, as in the diagram position Black seems to have a savîng resource, 20 ... .kxe5! The bîshop returns (o the kingside. Afler 20.,,g7 White bas a number of interesting ways 10 continue: 21 *f4 ±E22 xc7 ‘ft’xc723 *xf74fl Zxf7 24 xe6+ g8 25 xc7 looks good, and 22 exbs *xb8 23 ,kxc6? xc6 24 Sf64 g8 25 xc6! kxcô 26 exe6! fxe6 27 *xgô-i- h8 28 *h6+ tgs 29 *xe6+ and 30 *xc6 gives Whiie an armada of pawns and an initiative for the piece. 21 *h3 Wbite is in danger of trying too hard wilh 21 xe5, since 21...€ixe5 22 S’b3 .txg2 23 *h7+ f8 24 Ib8+ (24 *h6-t- is the last chance to draw) 24.,.g8 25 *xeS :c8 wins for Black, 21 ig7 21..4f8 could be asking for trouble affer 22 f4!? kg? 23 Ixe6!? b61 24 c5, 22 Qxb8 *xbS 23 xe6 White once again powers mb bis opponent’s position, but Black is ready. 23 ... fxc6! 24 *xe6+ Not 24 1h7+ 25 e6+ f7 26 *xg7+ xe6 27 kh3+ d6 28 *f6+ tc7, when Black bas escaped. 24 ,,. h8 25 *h3+ A lifting resuit to a good spirited and entertaining game. Dolmatov-Lautier Potand 1991 I e4 c5 2 €il3 e6 3 d3 t13c6 4 g3 dS 5 €bd2 Ad6 6 g2 ge7 7 0-0 O-08 h4!? Wbite adopts die hostile plan of pushing the f-pawn which Fischer used b great ettect in a cnishing vicboiy over lvkov in 1966 (see below). s b6 Much attention bas been given to alternatives recently. a) BbS begins the queenside counter even before White has touched bis f-pawn! Ils firsi outing al international level was in the game Nevednichy-Saliaev, Tiraspol 1994. Play went 9 f4 c4 10e5 kcs+ li hl ,ja6?! (better is ll,..cxd3 12 cxd3 .ka6 lhough I would flot say Ihat having the pawn on bS bas helped Black) 12 dxc4 bxc4 (12,..dxc4?! hands White the
tUA vs French Defence 79 e4-sqUare On a plate and leaves the bisllop on a6 with littie fùture) 13 c3 ‘Wb614 ‘àli5(D) B While has good prospects on the kingside, which is jusi as weII considering the progress Black has made on the other flank. After 14...g6 15 *g5 ad8 16 df3 the Ibreat of •gS-h6 followed by f3-g5 forced 16...efs 17 xfS exf5 18 *h6 .&e7, when 19 rel should have been answered by 19,44!? with a complex stwggle ahead. e.g. 20 cxd4 xd4 21 ke3 *xb2 22 abl 4c3. lnstead 19,..ic8 20 ie3! *c7 (20...*xb2? 21 kcs! ixc5 22 egs) 21 adl afe8 22 teS! txcS (22.16 23 ext ixf6 24 xe8+ xe8 25 g5 hits d5) 23 tèg5 ..e6 (23,.,f6 24 ±xd5-4!xd5 25 exf6 xel+ [or 25...dd8 26 xdS xdS 27 e71 26 xeI d8 27 e7) should have lcd to a nice win for White due ‘o24 xh7 1e7 (24.16 25 x+ Î7 26 *h74) 25 ixf6 26 exf6 etc. Black can also prepare to meet t2-f4 with bis own f-pawn: b) 8...ic79f4 bi) 9...f6 makes sure tha, Black has e5 covered, 50 White does test to mm his attention te tue light squares. A.David-Rodgaard, Moscow Oiympiad 1994, ‘stypical: 10 exd5 exd5 Il e1 b6 12 c3 *d7 13 b3 ib7 14 d4! c4 15 €d2 ZfeS 16 fl bS 17 4e3 and, apart from fixing the black pawn on d5, White had engineered a situation in which the knight serves a purpose on h4. The g2-bishop is free b exert pressure on the long diagonal while the knights monitor the 5-square. Luxembourg’s top player now switched to the queenside: 17...’iM8 18 a4 a6 19 b3 (D) fllack’s position s beginning to crack... 19..bg 20 axbs axb5 21 .ka3 f7 22 .xe7 xe7 23 thfS e6 24 bxc4 bxc4 25 aa7! g6 26 xb7 xb7 27 kxdz gxf5 28 .&xb7 ixf4 29 gxf4 ‘àxb730 xf5 and White was close b winning. b2) 9.. .5. Black an’ests the mrch of White’s f-pawn. 0f course this leaves a hole on eS but Black does intend to defend this weakness, and al Ieast Whites knight on h4 flow looks rather poinlless. In Yagupov-Samarin, Briansk 1995 Black adopted an interesting setup: 10 exd5 exd5 I I 03 4d6 (this is the point ofdropping the bishop back 1° c7) 12 e1 d4 13 c4 .td7 14 €3f1 aae8 (D)
80 KIA vs French Defence w Black bas eamed himself some oeaitoiy, ht bas a reasonable guard over the eS-square and ht s ready w conteM the only open file on the board White bas available only ont course of action —queenside expansion 15 ..d2 id8 16 a3 b6 17 b4 with a balanced game Black’s qucen stems awkwardly placed on d6. but the posdion holds together c) 8 .ad7 s similar to b2’ Again Black ntends to erect borner on (ht f-file, Ibis lime opting for simple developmenl and a more obturaI posting for (ht queen 9 f4 f5 10 exd5 (closing the position with 10 eS s illogical opening the e-file means that White can aim his pieces al eS and e6) 10 exd5 Il Zdf3 (II el .e8’ 12c3 Rf7 Isan equalizing une worth remembering) li Sb6(D) w We see on the kingside that White chose to bring bis queen’s knight b 6, leaving the olber stuck on h4 Assuming (bat Black wilI swing bis qoeen’s rook over ‘oe8 In order to contest the e-file (and defend eS), the e7-krnght will need 10 cear die way Propprng back 10 cS s a bit negative, while coming to g6 invites immediate capture by the h4-knaght, resulting in an ugly g7-g6-f pawn formation ‘nfront cf Blacks king [ht knight might aise prove useful should White Iaunch a kingside offensive A Rodriguez-Milos, Villa GeselI 1996. continued 12 c3 ae8 13 aol d4 14 g5” (14 c4 is the thematic response, bot White is happy to keep the gaine open) Now Milos decided agains the obvious move, 14 h6i, probably bocause he believed bis high rated opponeni would have (0e dangereus an atrack afler 15 *b5 hxg5 16 fxgs However. 16 e5 17 g6 Q7xg6 18 xg6 ‘2M3+19 .txf3 :xel 20 ‘f2fe8 21 d5- 1e6 forces White to take a draw with 22 àhs+ f7 23 ths g8 24 h8+ fl 25 *h5, e g 25 .àxd5 26 ee5+ Instead of putting the question to the knight Black played the defensive 14 g6 15 .d2 id8’ (Black had to bite (lie bullet wilh 15 h6 16 €g6 *xb2) 16 cxd4 cxd4 li b’l’ .tbs 18 b34 with a clear advantage te White after 19 ac J or firsl 19 a4 a6 20 acl 9 F4 dxe4 Black opens Ihe a6-fI diagonal so that ht can attack Whtte’s king’s rook and make t awkward for White le support his f-pawn 10 de4 ia6 11 acl (D) ta •zx*s isila tA saisi.
KM vs French Defence Si B il kc7 In the aforementioned game, F,scher- Ivkov, Santa Monica 1966, Black instead tr’ed li c4 (with the idea of 12 e5 1c5-’- 13 hl c3’ 14 bxc3 :08) The test of this fine game s worth a menhion 12 c3i 4a5’ (better is 12 Zc8, when 13 e5 s met by 13 kb8) 13 eS (now the threat of 14 ixaS forces the attacked bishop b leave the important bS-h2 diagonal and consequently lose fis influence on the e5-square) 13 ic5+ 14 hl “à1515 e4 S.b7 16 *1i5’ (White should n°1 consider e4xc5 because a kingside aitack holds excellent prospects of nettrn the full oni) 16 1e7 17 g4’ - xe4 lB xe4 (the powerful knight has been replaced by a powerful bishop’) 18 g6 19 tb6 t2Xd5 20 f5 e8 (threatening 1K8, but White S too quick) 21 fxg6 fxg6 22 xg6’ (winning 22 hxg6 23 êxg6+ f8 24 rfl÷) 22 td7 23 4M4 and Black did flot survive unhl move 30 12 eS Another new idea ‘s(o Iry ‘odo wflhout c2-c3 [t ‘sflot clear wh,ch s Ihe esser evil giving away d3 or d4 In Bologan-l-lorvath, Vienna 996 White could have retumed b the main game after [2es *d7 with 13 c3, but lie chose (o experiment with the more aggressive 13 éh5, when Black realiy has no choice but to jump into d4 immediately and flot wony about 11w queen’s rook 13 @d4 (D) w Without this move Black would be letting his opponent steal a tempo Now 14 ixa8 xc2 15 1e4 g6 16 *dl 4Zxal 17 tZdf3 *b5 18 b3 s clearly botter for While, but the simple 14 xa8 15 *dl ib7 is flot at ail what White is lookmg for Considering Black’s I 6th move, Boiogan must have weighed up the consequences ofthe kntght’s amval on d4 and deoided that t was nothmg to worry about 14 ie43ef5 15 ht] (flot 15 c3 g6 16 *g4 €xh4 17 gxh4 (17 *xh4 e2+ 18 g2 t1xcIJ 17 4M5 18 ixa8 Mxa8 19 e4 c6 20 kd2 ib7, cg 21 h5 d8) 15 adS I6c3e2-1- 17tf2 (White knew that bis king would suifer only Iemporary inconven,ence) 17 xcI 18 axcl f6 19 exf6 xf6 20 gI g6 21 *h3 eS’ 22 fxes ixes 23 ic2 ic7 24 ib3-’- h8 25 Qg5 4d6 26 ie6’ and Wh,te should have had a slighl pull 12 ids Lemer-Dolmatov, Kliarkov 1985, went 12 td7 13 eS adX * **4À*À AMRg
82 ICIA vs French Defence (13...&d3) 14 15(5 15 exf xf6 16 €e4 with a clear advantage to White. Black (heu blundered with I6.h6? allowing 17 *xh6L Seeing Doimatov having success on (lie white side of ibis une several years later suggests that he go something from this lesson. 13 e5 *d7 A way of attempting to justi’ sending the bishop te d3 s 13...bS?? followed by ...c5-c4, ...1d6-c5+ and ,,Qe7-d5. White’s next move prevents Black from reverting to this idea. 14 Q4! LdS 15 •g4 White’s menacing positions in (lie KJA ofien Iempt Black into sunendering poteniially usefùl picces for ostensibly more powerfiil ones. Such simplification tends to favour White; aalowing lite knight 10 remain on e4 is preferable, panying the ihreat of 16 f6- and 17 xd7 with l5...h8. 16 ixe4 €46 17 tjf3 Preparing to jump mb ss at the righi moment. 17 ... €ce1 Black brings another piece over 1° the kingside. Unfoilunately for Lautier bis bishop shit waits for an opportunity to play a pan in the game. 18 1c2! A grandmasterly dual-purpose move, The bishop vacates the e4-square —around which White makes his operations —in anticipation of f3-g5-e4. Another, equally important reason behind .c2 s bilai ii covers a4. An example of how Black could use ibis square as an entry point is 18 h4?! 4M5 19 h5 4e7, ihreatening the unpleasant ...d7-a4, 20 Offered a diflicult choice between this and 20...h6, Black decides against hile complications which resuit from hitting 11m knight: 20, .h6 21 xe6! xe5! 22 ‘lxfSg6 23 Se4 xe6 24 fxeS xeS 25 *xes .xeS 26 txe5 e8 27 xe8+ lxe8 28 f2!, and Whiies rook and two bishops make too strong a team for the lone qucen. 2O,..li6 seen’s passive, but Black wins lime ho make a queenside challenge. I-)owever, bile positioning of die respective forces indicates that White is in no huny to break mb his opponents kingside. 21 1.4 bS 22 ‘h21,4 23 4e2 Ç5 24 1.5 if8 25 e4! tc6 26 g4 €e7 Black can do nothing but wait for the charge. 27 h6! Underlining the vulnerability of Blacks f6-square. Note (bai die area around Blacks king is hie part of ihe board on which the action takes 18 19 20 ‘g5àh5 (D) f5 feS B
KIA vs Prend, Defence 83 place, yet he black pieces have no significant influence there. 27 ... d7 28 hxg7 txg7 29 g3! Threatening simply 10 invade down the h-file, 29 ... 30 1e3? This pennits Black to strike oui in the centre and activate bis pieces with a sacrifice that breaks White’s grip. White should keep the chains in place by 30 gS, and oniy then continue with bis plan to transfer to the b-file. 30 bxc3 31 bxc3 dxe5 (D) w 32 fxe5 .xe5+ 33 h3! (5! 1f 30 g5 had been played instead of 30 .e3 the sacrifice would be much Iess potent because now White would be able to play 34 gx%+. 34 €g3 h8 35 th5 kxe3? 35...g8!? s an interesting alternative. when Black has pressure down the g-file, li is understandable that Black seeks to regain material, but he risks returning the initiative. 36 lgS! b8 37 abI 38 xeI c4 39 1f6+ gS 40 1c3! White’s minor pieces are too powerfiil. The game ended: 40 ... 41 fl teS 42 *d2! Afier tbe scare caused by 30 .te3? White s once again in command. The immediate threat is *h6, but ail of White’s pieces are aimed at the enemy king. Tt s impossible for Black to defend, 42 ... *e7 43 tf5! I’h4+ Or 43.. .exf5 44 xfS+ g8 45 ‘éds.*e6 46 Qf6+, 44 g2 bd8 45 kxe6+! e7 46 ib4+ I-0 Black cannot escape Ihe crossf,re: 46,, .xe6 47 g7+ e5 48 t3+. Black Plafl ail Early ...dxej Finally, a game in which Black foilows a recommendation given in severai books about the French Defence the immediate central pawn exchange. li is true that White’s advantage is slight, but the positions are very simiiar to others which arise from the MA, anti White tends to have more attractive squares for bis pieces. Beikhodja-Crouch Capelle la Grande 1991 I e4 e6 2 d3 d5 3 ‘d216 4 g3 Perhaps a more accurale move order s 4 gf3, when 4.,,dxe4 5 dxe4 Black’s automatic and prematurc capture gives Wbite the opportunity to deveiop bis king’s bishop on d3. The game Ree-Pederson,
84 KIA vs French Defence Groningen 1965/66, continued 5 ic5 6 id3 b6 7 *e2 ib7 8 O-O 3bd79c3 ke7 10es d5 II e4 c59 12 igs’ and Black was n trouble dx 1.3 eS(D) 8 0-0 0-0 9 c3 aS! II s imperative that Black prevent WhHe’s inended space-gaining b2-b4 advance 10 *c2 Defendmg the e-pawn in preparation for d2-c4 kO II es?! Whiie returns flic favour by replying to Black’s strange tenth move with an equally useless one It seems from what happens later that Whiie Iry’ng ‘otempi h7-h6 More fitting s Il a4 or II h3 II ig4 (2 €k4 .h5 13 ‘3Oe8 (4 1g5 h6 15 ie3 White calculales that the tempo speni n enticing h7-h6 wilI prove to be a worthy investment when a knight arnves on f5. as hitnng the knight with g7-g6 would tiien lose the h6-pawn 15 ilS 16 adI tc8 17 a4 We6 18 b3 ad8(D) White has a nagging edge wbich he hopes b make more tangible by trading off mb an ending Until then, he also has a grip on the light squares and a pull on the krngside thanks to the availability of the h-square 19 xd8 20 Qh4 21 f3 22 €f5 23 1Ii3 White wants to mainlain a piece on f5 23 24 *xd3 25 c1 Blacks active rook evicted 25 26 f2 f6 Providing the queens bshop with route back into the gaine 27 e2 d8 28 112 Although White bas played the entire gaine without making any 4 5 dxe4 6 1g2 7 ‘gOw w zinrj4 s tÂt liAis xd8 *d7 g5 1g6 1d3 xd3 s soon to be
KM vs Frenci. Defence 85 particularly senous threats, bis positional handiing bas been excellent Black has also fared well, but he stili finds himself defendrng weak squares on dS and f5 2K if7 29 4fc3 ic5 30 id5 White takes advantage of a lactic 10 fnrther bis positional su erionty Now 30 axf2 31 txf2 xd5’ 32 exd5 wins a pawn for Whitc because 32 xd5 fails b 33 e6+ and .xd5 30 ... ±xI231 xf2 ‘K832 ce3 Ne7 33 c4 Qg8 Exehanging on dS wilI cave White with a strong pawn Ihere whichever way he recaptores The point of Biack’s move is 10 defend the h6-pawn (which While Iempbed torvard as early as the fourteenth move) againsi a possible e3-f5 34 e2 Keeping guard ove, d3 in anticipation of Blacks next 34 c6 35 3b6 ‘e7An interesting winning try White sacrifices a pawn in return for pressure against Black’s a- and b-pawns If Black declines White will anyway atlack the a-pawn with e3-c4 36 .xb3 37 ka2 38 39 xe6 49 bc4 Winning back bis pawn with a decisive advantage White bas a dominating position 40 e7 41 ab7 f5 Black endeavours 1° break White’s grip. but Ibis does flot change the final outcome 42 nf5+ ‘nF543 thF5 xf5 44 €xa5 M 45 fxe4+ xe4 46 ‘?xc6a8 47 t2a7 d5 48 c6 ed6 49 d7 c5 50 aS cS 51 Nxc8 xc8 52 c7 b5 53 fl L’xaS 54 ‘g4I-0 A Iextbook-like positional display froni the French 1M, showing the reader how cairn, conlrolled methods cati be used against 36 c5!? (D) B w U X8*41 f%Â sirj; S’AXA. SA1fA’4 I b I b2 ..xe6 Black’s equalisrng attempi
86 KM vs Caro-Kann Defence 4 NIA vs Caro-Kann Defence B I M c6 2 d3 (D) Before looking al the more popular ways of meeting 2 d3, it must be noted that Black has an uncompromising une which threatens to (te the inhialive should While continue in a stereotyped fashion: 2 d5 3 d2 dxe4 4 dxe4 eS 5 tigfl 1c5 Black ignores the threal w his epawn because he intends 10 meet 6 ??xe5 with 6Sxf2-’- (defending with 5..Sc7 grants White a commanding position afler 6 €k4 —alsopossible s 6 ie4 6...4id7 7 a4 gf6 8 id3). If White dam flot take up the challenge Black can develop his pieces freely, so the only way to strive for an advantage is to follow GM Raymond Keene’s advice and strike immediately: 6 exes? 7 ‘xf2*d4+ 8 ‘eIlieS 9 c4! (D) The point. H is truc abat White van no longer castie, but Black k veiy weak on the dark squares now that he has given White die advantage of abc two bishops, and abc unpleasant thrcat of 4Zc4-d6 more or less forces Blacks hand: 9 10 ke2 txe4+
KM vs Caro-Kann Defence 87 Now lO,xg2 Il d6+tf8 12 f1 Se6 13 xf7! wins due to 13..ixfl 14 i’d8 mate. This Ieads us to IO..Ée6 Il 4d6t te7 12 exc8 *xc8 13 td4! with a tremendous position for White. An interesting alternative is 10 sf2. when a future :eI will cause Black problems. Black has two main continuations against 2 d3, distinguished by where lite kings bishop wiII go. One idea s to follow Wbite’s example and support the centre wilh a kingside fianchetto, following up with .e7-e5 and . ..“g8-e7 or simply developing with ...g8-f6 and omitting the e-pawn. Karpov once opted for ,e7-eS ‘g8-f6and . . .d7-d6 instead, but White then has a free hand on (lie queensde (see Ljubojevic-Karpov). Another way of niaintaining pawns on d5 and eS s by playing ....f8-d6,4g8-f6 and ..f8-e8 as in AnandMal niuk, A lcss ambitious policy which solid opponents may prefer involves holding back the e-pawn altogether and making the central exchange ...d5xe4. The resulting symmetrical pawn stnicture works out in White’s favour as the extra move and tenitorial superiority afford White the better game. Black Fianchettoes Kinslde Woj tkiew ic z—B ro n ste In Polarnea Zdroj 1988 L €4 c6 2 d3 d5 3 ed2 g6 4 ‘3gf3ig7 $ g3 eS 6 .g2 ee7 By playing .. .e7-e5 and . . .€3g8-c7 Black akes a share of Ihe central tenitoiy and PUIS a stop to White’s space-gaining e4-eS push. 7 0-0 0-0 (D) 8 eI A popular continuation for White is to play b2-b4 here or on LIte next move w take advantage of Black’s decision to voluntarily close his king’s bishop’s long al-h8 diagonal. Yermolinsky-Tukmakov, Sverdlovsk 1987, continued 8 M a5 9 hxa5 ÏxaS 10 1b2 d4 II a4 (better than II tel?!, which was played in Short-Miles, Wijk aan Zec 1987 —affer lI,,,ed7 12 eb3 *a41 Black had used White’s omission of a2-a4 (o steal the ad— vantage.) I l..tc7 l2 c3 dxc) 13 .Lxc3 eS 14 k4 ,ec6 15 S’b3 ia6 16 b6 with a slight pull for White. In the game Maier-Muse, West Germany 1987, White (afier 8 M a5) ignored (lie threat to his b-pawn and hit the black e-pawn with 9 .b2!?. For some reason Black decided against the obvious and punishing 9..,axb4, oing for the safer 9,,d7 10 a3 1c7 Il d4 exd4 12 .kxd4 ..xd4 13 Qxd4 with a roughly equal position. The continuation 8 c3 d7 9 M s discussed in Stem-fort, Ii is purely a maner of tasle whether or flot White goes for immediate expansion on the queenside or as happens in this game —continue with central development, threaening to win die e-pawn after first w
88 KM vs Caro-Kann Defence exchanging on dS. I would prefer the text 8 d4 Black closes the centre After 8 d7 Whitc might retuni 10 11w idea mentioned in the lasi note by playing 9 b4, or opi to light for flic hi-aS diagonal with 9 cxd5” (see Gelman-Lastin, below) 9 e4? b5 Bronstein answers White’s provocative play by accepting the invitation to match bis pawns down the board White cannol take the epawn now because afler 10 €kxe5 f6 wins a piece 10 cd2 c5 II a4! Part of Ihe plan White gave away couple of moves in order b lure the enemy pawns forward and subsequently take control of Ihe c4-square II b4 12 ‘2c4ed7 13 1êrdz Clearing the way for ihe f-pawn now thal Black’s counterplay on the other wing bas been nipped n the bud White begins b aitack on the kingside 14 f6 Black bolsiers bis e-pawn, waiting until the lime s righl before playing e5xf4 15 fI bS Anoiher preparatory move which rn quite common in the KIA Black moves his rook out of the firing me of Whiies kings bishop n anticipation of the coming e5xf4 16 en exc4 17 dxc4(D) White must have judged the exchange of bis weIl-posted knight as flot detrimental *0 his game Furtherinore the newly-arrived c4-pawn wiII help blockade the queenside 17 18 gxf4 Preventing the useful noeuvre £(3-el-d3 19 b3 c8 Bronstein gives White something to think about by intending ‘oattack the e-pawn 20 h3 21 hId3 Uscaping flic the e-pawn 21 ... Cc8 22 id2 b7 23 aeI be7 Black has organised bis forces weII considenng bis difficolties in the transition beiween opening and middlegame Nevertheless. White still has an initiative and. because Black had to bnng pieces to cover Ihe kingside, a better game on both sides of ihe board (Blacks queenside pawns are permanently weak) 24 e5? A speculative advance which aims to break into Black’s camp Now 24 fxeS 25 xe5 kxes 26 fxe5 xe5 27 xeS xe5 28 .kh6 gives Whiie excellent compensation for B exf4 g4 knight ma- 13 14 f4! b6 ihs pin and defending
KIA vs Caro-Kirnn Defence 89 the sacrif’ced pawn, e g 28 1e2 29 *g3 e8 30 ..d5+ ‘h831 tf7 Altemahvely 24 .kxf3 25 Sxf3 fxes 26 f5” leaves Black very weak on the light squares, flot forgetting Whdes much superior pieces Therefore Bronstein prefers to keep bis position as stable as possible b6 25 Sxf6 26 xe7 27 White considers that he can exchange ail the rooks and stili retain good attacking chances 27 xel+ 28 exel *e7 29 .af3 White bas good enough command ot the light squares even without his king’s bishop Blacks problem now 18 bis weak c-pawn, as White ‘sabout to reMise Ihe plan of transferring a knight to d3 Remember that Black interfered with this sortie with hi, l8thmove 29 1x0 30 *xt] (D) Improvrng Ihe position of die queen and preparrng £0 defend the c-pawn with a less powerfui plece 31 Cd3 1e7 32 ‘iàe5a6 33 *b7 tc8 34 g2 ‘g735 aS gS Black tries to break out of his zestraints, so Wh,te decides t s tint to offer a irade ofquecns 36 *dS ‘Ifs37 €43 *xd5+ 38 cxd5 h6 Or 38 gxf4 39 1x14, with die dea of 1f4-c7-b6 Consequently b keep the bishop Black prefers locked oui 39 f3 40 40 fxgS ixgs leaves undefended 41 g4 Black resigned because cuber Ihe c-pawn or die g-pawn (perhaps even both) wiIl fail One threat s 42 e5+ Now an exampie of a much different treatment ofihis variation Gelman-Lastin Russiwi Junior Championship 1996 I e4 c6 2 d3 d5 3 tiA2 g6 4 g3 1g7 5 1g2 eS 6 €g0 e7 7 0-0 0-0 8 e1 €47 ForS d4 sec Ihe precedung game, Wojtkiewucz-Bronstein Alternative moves are a) 8 f6 defends the eS-pawn but cannot be as good as the text Kertesz-lleinbuch, Bonn 1995, continued 9 1,3 d4 (Black pushes now that die thematic c2-c3 ‘sno longer playable) 10 a4 aS Il Cc4 cS 12 €h4 and Wbite threatened the longsude thrust f2-f4 wulhout die 24 exf6 axel e I g6 hxgS the c-pawn I-0 4r4tÀ11 8P4i’ •A• rjS,64R j4 j4 I.Jnfortunately for Black the an’- val of an ending bas not rid him of bis defensive task 30 *e6
90 KIA vs Caro-Kann Defence prospect of Black canying out the usual queenside expansion Cousequently Black hit oui with 12 g5 13 f5 €xf5 14 exfS .xf5, resultmg in a slight edge 10 White after 15 kxb7 a7 16 ig2 a6 17 ‘‘f3ke6 18 tc6 wilh a gnp on the lighl squares, beiter pawn sinicture and the constant threat of t2-f4 b) 8 *c7 covers eS while keeping Blacks options open bi) 9 *e2 steps up Ihe pressure on the eS-pawn Now afier 9 d4 ‘ts a malter of which queen, if any, s die better piaced Black shouid flot allow bis queen ‘obe exposed on die c-file following c2-c3xd4, wh,le the white queen mighi sec more aclion on c2 or b3 Otherwise Black simply brangs another piece to die rescue with 9 L2d7, which was seen in Floegel-Bobzin, Gennan League 1994 There foliowed 10 exd5 cxd5 (10 €xd5 Il €k4 favours White) il c4’, and now pressing on with II d4 as in the main game oses a pawn 10 12 xd4 due to die pin on the e-file Instead li dxc4 12 €lxc4 tVk6 13 .td2 f6 14 Lcl 1b8 5 d4” temporarily sacrificed a pawn in order 1° open die position, and Black was punished for weakening bis k.ngside aller 15 exd4 16 1,4 edes 17 ecxesexes i8€lxd4 b2) 9 c3 b21) 9 aS s aimed ai dissuading White froni staking a daim 1° die queenside with b2-b4, although 10 b4 s indeed a viable reply see the note b White’s 9th move There s also a siower, creeping form of expansion available to Wliite 10 b3 bô Il tc2 d8 12 kb2 1a6 13 d4i d7 14 a3 with an edge li s worth remembering what now happened In OlI-WeIIs. Antwerp 1996, where Black played I 5 ac8, walking into a pin aller 16 ih3 While should be on the lookoul for this possibility 1,22) The main idea oftuckmg the queen on c7 is b facilitate the occupation of die d-file aller an early pawn exchange in Ihe centre. 9 dxe4 lûdxe4dg II *c2(D) B Although there s nothing terribly wrong with Ibis simplistic plan. which is scen most often at club level, Black can look forward 10 no more than a cramped, defensive position requiring a certain amounl of manouevring Despite the tact that most of the pieces stand on 111e same squares. White’s extra move and superior knights (the e7knight s misplaced) afford hmm persistent pressure In facl many players experience difficuhy addressing the weak spot upon which much of the middlegame stniggle s based the d6-square In Ghenke-Bilek, German League 1983, the experienced Bilek skilfully Iimited bis opponeni 10 a flan-0w lead II d7 12 a4 et 3 ec4 ie6 14 ifi f 15 b3 c8 16 ka3 \d7 17 adl Neyer theless White’s game s so much casier to conducl, as he can clamp down on the key d6-square with natural developing moves, and there
KM vs Caro-Kann Defence 9! is aiways die chance Ihat Black is not up te the task of defending while simultaneously avoiding dangereus passivity. 9 exds! The ‘sgiven because the cappire gives 11w vanation a more Iively flavour However, the traditional 91,4 is fine 9 aS (Black cannet really afford to ignore the pawn, cg 9 b610kb2d4IIc3dxc3l2 .txc3 ia6 13 b3 àc7 14 d4 with an obvieus advanlage to White, Bronstein-Saidy, TalImn 1973) Now in Damijanovic-Kosic. Novi Sad 1995 White came up with a worthy alternative to b4xa5, whicb bas been virtually an aulomatic cheice when these two pawns corne mb contact Instead he essayed 10 c3’9 (D) B Wanting to keep a pawn on M is sensible Given the opportunity White wiII hit Black’s centre with timely d3-d4 or e4xd5, which is wby Kosic elected to undermine bis opponents influence on the d4-square 10 axb4 Il cxb4 *c7 l2.tb2e8(l2 dxe4 l3dxe4bS’ 14 eb3 b6 15 tc2 a4 dnves ihe bishop back. though 16 toI felIowed by ..çl-e3 and Zel-cI to monitor the backward c-pawn and the c5-square s more pleasant for White) 13 a4 f8 14 55 dxe4 15 dxe4 .&g4 16 h3 ixf3 17 xt) cxb5 18 axb5 e6 19 kfl and Black had to be carefri on the light squares In fact 1w eventually came unstuck on the a2-fl diagonal 9 cxd5 10 c4(D) B This refreshing approach ‘sanother example of the efflcacy cf a change of pace in some of die quieter Irnes of die KIA That tIns aggressive treatment of die position has takei until the mid-1990s to be nohced’ s interesting Some MA practitioners tend te stick too rigidly to the tried and tested Irnes, and ‘ts n°1 really surprising 10 sec that this enterprising game was played in the Russian junior championships For an appreciatien ef White’s opening strategy t s flot necessary (o carry ouI a close inspection of the dia- gram position The KIA s flot considered to be teo dangerous a weapon against the solid Caro-Kann Defence, due In no small part to the erection of the c6-d5 barner which serves to lessen the influence of White’s bishop en die long hl-a8 diagonal Gelmans uncomproniising challenge on Black’s pawn centre ‘sdesigned to force open the diagonal, thus presenting die
92 KIA vs Cara-Kann Defence fianchettoed bishop with a view of Black’s queenside As we saw above in bi’ n the noie ‘oBlack’s 8th move, 10 dxc4 Il 4xc4 pots the black centre under considerable strain, e g I I 13c6 12 .e3 followed by d3-d4, Ot Il f6 12 d4 —In either case White s better placed ‘oexploit the removal of the centre pawns and the sobsequent open lines Hence Blacks nexi 10 ... d4 LI b4! Natural and besi White’s queenside majority must make its piesence feU if the change to the layout ofpawns in the centre ‘sto have any positive affect lronically, White has the Iuxury ofexpenence te help him in the nght direction, for we have found ourselves in a reversed Modem Benoni in which the extra tempo proves raiher usefiil Black. too, is flot wuihout anacking chances on the kingside, and the tatented junior shows us how to dnjm up dangerous coun terp la y II ... 1.6 Black makes no secret of his inÉention 1° concentrate bis efforts on his own pawn majority At ihe moment he s tied down to the defence ot> the e5-pawn, 50 the first phase of the strategy s ‘op051 the knight on g6 Another path b an interesting game begins on the other wing I I a5’’ afier which 12 ia3 axb4 I 3 ixb4 e8 seems w help Black, which leaves 12 b5 momentanly relinqoishing White’s hold on eS Bangiev evaluates 12 f6 13 ia3 e8 14 c5 as slightly better for White The d6-square beckons and 12 f6 opened the a2-gS diagonal 12 a4 The impatient I 2 ia3 prepares to open the a3-fS diagonal but runs p10 I 2 a6, so Ihe text supports bS and defends the bishop once n cornes to a3 However, 12 b5’ looks as good as Gelman’s move, as the threat of acflvely deveioprng the bishop gives Black more to think about 12 gS!? Freeing gé, from where the knight both protects eS and covers f4 and h4 —two squares which could prove significant in the event of an all-out attack Also possible is 12 f5 13 1a3 e8 14 b5 when White has the better chances, havrng made more progress on hie queenside Il is truc that the f-pawn will play a part in Black’s offensive, but for the moment he s happy ho leave the rook where il s, for in certain circumstances lie cati leave it hanging on 13 1a3 €46 (D) Consistent Premature is 13 g4 14 h4 f5 15 b5, which s awkward for Black Facêl with the nevitable march oU Black’s f-pawn White musi now choose between Iwo courses of action —opening the a3-f diagonal or sending his knighl to d6 14 €e4 The knight heads to d6 while t can The other option, 14 b5’’, favours White afber 14 res 15 e4,
KIA vs Caro-Kana Defence 93 but White was probably flot content wilh the following variation —14 g4i9 5 ..xf8 2Zdxf8 16 €h4 exh4 17 gxh4 *xh4 18 aS €g6 19 a6 fl8 with a messy position 14 15 I prefer 14 g4, when 15 fd2 6 16 d6 produces a position with chances for both sides Blacks plan in (lie game ‘s*0 break through on the f-file, which is one of (lie reasons why lie left Ihe iook in place 15 ‘îd6et?! This turns out b be a faulty —if tempting —continuation, suggestmg that die previous note (14 g4) 15 the way bo hold the balance, or perhaps 15 g4 now 16 dxe4 fxe4 17 2ad4 17 €xe4” ‘stidy and sbrong The following variation s typical ofhow play might continue 17 d3 18 cl ‘Àde519 ixe5 ‘2xe520 b2’ kg4 (20 13+ 21 ..xf3 kxb2 22 bI followed by b1-b3xd3) 21 *d2 4M3+ 22 txf3 txf3 23 .xg7 and Black does not have Urne for 23 td7’ in vIew of 24 ixh6 *h3 25 *xgs+ 17 tide5 18 ‘he8White does no; have the time for 18 cS’’ ‘?id318 *f6(D) w The batrie bas reached boilrng point Black s committed to going forward For bis part. Wliite must be prepared to put up with lhese complications when he upsets bhe balance ‘nthe centre with the capture on dS 19 €46 lnLerestin ‘s19 j49 *xt2+ 20 hl axc8 21 ..xb7 (21 &6 f7 22 id5 s also good for White) 21 ce822id5+th723e6 19 I’x12t 20 IiI 21 rxe4 ixd4 2L *xd422xd4’tf2+23gl 2xdl 24 LxdI td4* 25 axd4 22 *xd3 Afler 22 bI le3 23 xe3 \f2+ 24 gl xdI 25 xdl ixe3* 26 hI White ‘sn control in the ending 22 ixaI(D) (he players agreed a draw’ k s possible ‘ha;the early detour from better chartered waters and the ensumg complications caused both sides to use up mosb of their lime Anyway. (23 h4) 23 gxh4’ oses to The position is complex and neither kmg s immune from atback, yet after White’s next move 23 h4
94 MA vs Caro-Kann Defence 24 g4, but Black has 23..iad8! 24 hxg5 hxgs 25 e6 f6 and ihe game goes on. Had White flot been too concemed about giving bis king some breathing space he might have found 23 e6!, when Blacks king needs attention, e.g. 23.1f6 24 xf6 *xf6 25 Wd5-’- h8 (or 25.f8 26 tzf5 d8 27 b5+ [afier 80 much promise flic b-pawn finally coniributesfl 27.4e8 28 d6+) 26 M7+ g7 27 *xb7. 23,,Qe5 is tbrced. Then 24 xe5!? kxe5 25 0d5+ h7 26 xe5 gives White three active minor pieces for two rooks. Stein-Hort Los Angeles 1968 I e4 c6 2 d3 d5 3 tid2 g6 4 g3 kg? S ig2 e5 6 gD e7 6..eh6?! neglects the centre and was rightly punished in RibliBarcza. Budapest 1971. The game continued 7 0-0 0-0 8 exd5! (StemBarcza, Caracas 970. went 8 M f6 9eb3dxe4 IOdxe4*xdl lIxdI b6 12 iii f7 13 ie3 1g4 14 ‘g2id7 15 h3 .ke6? 16 Zbd41! exd4 17 xd4 f5 18 xe6 ixal 19 exfs xf8 20 Zxal fxe4 21 a4! wpih a clear plus for White) 8..cxd5 9 c4 c6 10 cxds *xds il c4 •e6 12 .kxh6! .kxh6 13 fxe5! xe5 14 el f6 15 f4 and White had a very active game. 7 0-0 0-0 8 c3 ci47 9 b41 b6 10 .kb2 .b7 ii ei 12 .kh3(D) Over the lasi few moves Whiie has been indirectly attacking the e5-pawn. Black now decides to offer a sacrifice rallier than remain on the defensîve. 12 13 exdS 14 c4! A good choice. Affer 14 ixd7 txd7 15 cixe5 .xe5 16 xe5 ‘c617 xe8* xe8 Black would have excellent compensation for the pawn by playing against White’s lighi-square weaknesses. The game continuation, however. helps White maintain an advantage by granting him a dangerous pawn majorily on the queenside. 14 d4 Not 14..dxc4? 15 Qxc4 when Black’s weak e-pawn will cause him serious strategical problems. 15 cI (5 Black must also aitempi to mli lis pawns down the board, 16 .kg2 .kf6 Denying White access to e6, e.g. 16...Sd6? 17*b3’êe6 l8g5!. 17 eS! l-Jelped by the threat to win material wîth 18 c6! (l8...4xc6 19 b5) White forces either a supported passed pawn or a favourable opening U of (lie position. 17 1,5 The lesser evîl, as 17...bxc5 18 bxc5 .kds (not L8..excs 19 4b3) 19 Qc4 gives Black another un pleasant choice —to relinquish the bishop pair or allow c4-d6 (noie that l9..Jc8 is met by 20 4xd4 B cxd5
KM vs Ca,o-Kann Defence 95 whefl 20...exd4 Ioses die now ondefended rook on e8). lB eb3 Intending an occupation of a5 in the near future. 18 ids 19 a4! Now afier l9..bxa4 20 a5 White wiIl follow up the recapture of die front aiawn with an attack on ils remaining partner on a7. Black opts to saddle himself with weak b-pawn instead. 19 ... a6 20 a5 3c6 Black thematically blocks die path of die passed pawn, but perhaps bet1er was 20.. .g7. witli a greal game fin White. 21 axb5 Also good s 21 xe5 xe5 22 ixd5- xd5 23 *b3 exM 24 ia3!, but Stems way of playing the combination s more pleasing, 21 axbs 22 xe5!! (D) B 22 ... xb4 As in die last note, 22...xe5 23 txd5± xdS 24 à’b3 exb4 25 ta3! looks very good for White, Another interesting move s 24 *8!’. 23 €xd7 *xd7 24 c6! White’s brave c-pawn marches on. 24 ... *17 25 xeS+ xe8 26 b7! Threatening to win Oie exchangt with b7-d6. 26 ... tes 27 .txd5 *xd5 28 c5 *f7 28...*e6 29 c7 is crushing, e.g. 29. ,c8 30 *e2. 29 *f3 gS?! Ambitious, although after the better 29,,,’ta6 30 xbS c7 31 b4 White s winning. 30 c7! g4 Because oC Black’s 291k 30,,kxc7 allows 31 txfs. Now Black dots succeed in winning the c-pawn, but White bas switched bis attentions ‘oa kingside attaek, 31 *dI ixc7 32 *d2 ib6 32,,ieS offers more hope oC prolonging the game. Now White goes on the warpath. 33 :b5 4hd3 Agamnst 33,,,*xb7 the best reply s 34 xb4!, not 34 *xb4?? tf3 with a draw! Now, despite being in time-trouble, White skilfully paves bis way through die complications to emerge with a won game. 34 4d6 *d7 35 *gS+ h8 36 ‘116+g8 37 *gS+ li8 38 exes! àxes 39 *xf5 Unfortunately for Black, Stein’s lasi defends against 39.,,*e I-4 40 g2 *xf2+, 39 ... 4e5 40 xb6 f3+ 4) ‘g2!
96 KIA vs Caro-Kanu Defence mate 41 Black could resign here 42 *f6+ 43 *c6+ Or 43 f8 44 a3+ b8+ g7 46 g8 mate 44 Wc6 10 te2 dxe4 Il dxe4 *c7 Wh.te was threatenang 12 eS foltaS lowed by 13 e6’, opernng the e-file and weakening Black’s light squares 12 a4 This s the first stage of a plan designed to attack Black’s queonside I-0 White gains space and prepares to either tie Black down to the defence of the a-pawn or force posihonal concessions 12 adS 13 ‘b3b6 Black had to do something about Fisehers next move 13 aS leaves the queenside pawns weak and susceptible to attack from now until the endgame 13 a6 s also a somewhat unatiractive move to make, as 14 aS’ eyes the hole on b6 and fixes the queenside Were Black to eventualIy play b7-bS White could then capture en passant with a5xb6, thus saddling Black with a very weak 3-pa w n 14 .e3 c5 After this advance White’s pieces are denied the use of d4 and bis queen’s bishop no longer pressures b6 Black can also avoid the spinting of his queenside pawns Nevertheless, one of the Golden Rules ofchess —which s often flot ftilly appreciated —advises that ‘everypawo move automatically creales a weakness In Ibis case 11w new hole on b5 helps White stay on top 15 aS eS Black prevents a future f2-f4 and e4-eS 16 d2 1-leading for ç7 to defend the kxI3 white squares on the queenside ebd7 17 axb6 axb6 (D) Even ROW White must be carefiul 41 sf1” Sel-’- 42 tg2 •gl g8 h8 Sxa3 45 Fiseher-Ibrahlmoglu Siegen Olyînpusd 1970 I e4 c6 2 d3 dS 3 d2 g6 4 ‘gfl.g7 S g3 f6 Instead of spending urne with e5 and 6 e7 Black develops sirnply This plan s less ambitious than fonrnng a pawn centre, and White is guaranteed a shgbt edge 6 kg2 O-0 7 0-0 g4 (D) 14* X*I *À• ASSIS ist 111514 (s • UMUI I UR14fl Black develops bis problem piece The alternative 7 dxe4 transposes to the next game $ h3 Also possible Is 8 e1, as Black’s lasi move iniends to concede the bishop pair anyway w g 9 tin
KM vs Coro-Kam, Defence 97 18 \bI! White’s knight takes up the challenge (o control b5 by reaching there via bi Black prepares for the invasion knight 21 xc7 22 tbs! (D) Otherwise Black will play 22 *c6, when White oniy has a small edge Now Fischer persisis with bis qucenside pressure. concentrating on Black’s b-pawn His play on the light squares is ‘nstnicLiveand Black neyer gels the lime (o counter-attack 22 23 ci fiai 24 xal b8 A dual-purpose move which de- fends the b-pawn and prepares if possible b exchange the final pair of rooks with b8-b7-a7 25 fa6 ,F8 26 ifi While accentuates bis domination of (ho queenside by strengthening ihe fi -a6 diagonal, also relieving the queen of ber dulies on b5 26 g7 27 ‘Wa4b7 28 ib5! Fischer crowns bis accurate positional punishment of Blacks four teenth move with the threat of 29 ixd7 *xd7 30 txd7 fxd7 31 xb6 Thus Black ‘sforced into horribly passive position 28 tjb8 lJnfortunately for Black 28 f6 allows 29 ic6 b8 30 L7 with pressure on the seventh rank 29 a8 id6 30 édit Highlighting 11w power of White’s pieces lis rook —helped by Ihe king’s bishop —s the master of the queenside, his queen enjoys great freodom of movement and now even the remaining bishop ‘sabout 10 play fis part II is important te note Ihat White’s agi inove does flot permit his opponent b reI eve the pressure with 30 a7 as 3 I xa7 txa7 32 *xd6 wins a piece in the meantime the black pieces are huddled iogether on the queenside. so he sels about unravelling thom 30 4c6 31 *d2! h5 Vacating h7 for the king Not 31 tbs’ 32 ih6+ g8 33 ixc6’ txc6 34 xb84- ixb8 35 d8*, or 32 f6 33 *g5-l- t06 34 axbs and 35 ic4-t- 32 1h6+ ‘h733 1g5 Threatening 34 ifb 33 fbs 34 xb8 ‘xb835 f6! Whites invasion ‘salmosi complote 11e still bas three active pieces compared with Black’s spectators 35 Not 35 d7’ 36 txd7 à’xd7 37 ixe5 36 *d5 w 18 19 €ic3 20 €b5 Both avoiding 21 White (o exchange b7 c7 éc6 a7 and forcing bis troublesome î’xc7 €a7
98 KM vs Caro-Kann Defence If 36 2d8 37 .txdS *‘xdS 38 37 Le8! The wrnning move. non s overloaded 37 38 39 *xd6 Balashov-TisdaII Reykjavk 1989 I e4 c6 2 d3 dS 3 ed2 g6 4 tgfl .g7 S g3 dxe4 A commutai but solud continua- lion Wliite no longer has 1° wony about bis opponent crealing complications in the near future after Ihus simplilying central exchane Ô dxe4 @Î6 7 .g2 O-O 8 0-0 e2s (D) Caro-Kann players often have problems developing the queenside minor pieces when faced wilh the MA, pailicularly the queen’s bishop (in the previous gaine Black traded ii off al tue carliesi opportunhly) This drawback and the symmetrucal nature of the pawn structure give Wbite a persistent and safe advantage fle garne BagirovSchert ’ako’,Budapesl 1989. continued S €bd7 9 eS’ d5 10 e6’, disrupting Blacks pawns After IV fxe6 Il *e2 h8 12 g5’ (While loses his queen afier 12 *xe6 e5’) 12 tèc7 13 ?jSJf3 eS 14*c4e4 I5*xe4tiM616*h4 ie6 17 LI txg5 lB .axg5 White was weIl on top 9 *e2 9 eS was seen in Stein-Portisch, Moscow 1967, with Whtte retaining a slight pull n the middlegame after 9 ‘Zd510 2b3 ig4 Il *e2 *cS 12 e1 tac7 13 .kd2 f6 14 exf6 .xf6 15 c3 fl 16 *e4 .f5 17 tc4 Qb6 IX *fI 1a4 19 ..cl *d7 20 €e5 ixeS 21 xeS Balashov prefers 10 wait for Black 10 show bis hand before pushing ihe e-pawn Q ... taS 10 eS Black may have been toying with the idea of transfernng his qucen over 10 the krngside with Éa5-b5, so ihis must bave helped White decide 10 make Ibis space-gaining move The altacked knighl will now be chased across the board £0 JOUI ils passive panner 10 ... d5 The besl square 10 “e8looks ugly and 10 d7 Il e6 saddles Black wilh a weak e-pawn Il eb3 12 c4 Staking a clam to central temtoiy and stmulianeously putiing the question 10 the knight Now 12 dh4 13 a3 wins for White. so Blacks nexl s forced 12 ... ‘b613 if4 Wh,ie introducos the threat of 14 e6 by lining Ihe bishop up with Ihe enemy queen 13 .e6 Usefully blocking while developmg Black also threatens the c-pawn and prepares to brrng a rook to the d-file Black’s positxfl l-0 w IflÉ X*IE ÂfP4 &*tts 414LV24 4*1 S Il AflA fS’1! # tnr_dnt
KM vs Caro-Kann Defence 99 14 gacl tad8 15 ebd4 Now that Wbiie’s forces are hannoniOUSIY placed he adds pressure to the e6-square If he ‘sallowed a Iimely exe6 hen Black WLII be lefl with a couple of weak e-pawnS and no promise of freeing his king’s b,shop wilh f7-f6 15 ig4 Inviling (ht thrust e5-e6, although with a more active gaine than a few moves ago Black would no longer be iroubled se much by Ihis push Because Black has a somewhat cramped position White elecls to take an advanlage in the form of ihe bishop pair more space and excellent chances of engineering a kingside aitack 16 h3 xfl Such an exchange helps relieve the pressure on the defender and s better Ihan dropping hie bishop back ho c8 whence il would have a future wihh few prospects 17 ‘11x13e6 18 b3 1.6 (9 h4 AIl three ot White’s minor pieces are ready 10 begin action on the kingside As for Black, bis knights are al the moment lacking any significant influence on the game. and f he does flot act quiekly n the centre or on me qucenside, Ihen White vall be left w build up threats againsi the black king 19 Qb4 Black conectly begins bis dlversionary tactics The immediahe threat s to jump in with 23b4-d3 whiçh explains White’s nexi 20 c3 cS Improving bis position ftirther Suddenly the queen’s knight s beading (via c6) for d4 21 eI d7 22 a3 Ii s truc that Whihe seems b be helping the knighls invasion, but with ihe queen tied to the defence of the a-pawn ii s n°1 possible to pressurize ihe black h-pawn and concentrate fire-power on the kingsade 22 1Zc6 23 *e3 td4 (D) w Black bas accomplished bis aim Even 24 xh6 s now ruled oui thanks 10 24 1f5 We have reached Ihe point of the game in winch White must accelerate the pace or relinqoish bis initiative Balashov s 1° the hask 24 g4! Unlike many openings, the KIA et fers White a veiy good opportunity of troubling the enemy king (especially with such a pawn advance), oflen without fear of a dangerous counter-athack in another sector of ihe board Apart from intending h4-hS White’s aggressive move also deprives Black the use of the fS-square 24 ‘h7In view of whal follows il may have been a good cita ho play 24 xt3t, although White would sf11 be able to use e4 for bis kings bishop But exehanging knighis ‘sa difficuli decision ho arnve al when é44X*) F4’ 4Â4ÀL / •rjflhr4
100 KM vs Caro-Kann Defence 00e considers the number of moves Black invested ‘oestablish the ouipost on d4. 25 ‘d2White prepares to transfer bis knight to e4, ignoring its ostensibly powerfiul counterpart. 25 c8 Blacks weak f6-square needs covering, so in anticipation of ihe arnval of a knighi on e4 Black teleases his queen from the defence of the c-pawn, 26 e4 É’dS 27 ef6+ flic first strike. Moving the king nol only loses Ihe h-pawn, but caves the knighi finnly entrenched in Éhe black camp, hence bis choice. 27 ixI6 28 exf6 lis Wiih ail of Blacks pieces on die queenside, a successfi,l breakihrough from White s inevilable if Black follows a sh and wait licy, 29 gxh5 xf6 30 ies ‘xh431 hxg6+ fxg6 (D) 32 *clt A wonderfui mon with which White secures viciory. The qneen clears die way for the queen’s rook ‘ocorne b the h-file. 34 *h6 1-0 This lime the white queen makes the final ihreat ihat of 35 *hS+ f7 36 rh7 mate. Unfo.-tunately for Black there is no adequate defence, Ljubojevic-Karpov Amsterdam 1988 I e4 c6 2 d3 eS!? 3 d2 ‘7r64 ‘îgt3d6 When Black refrains from playing an cari> .d7-dS the iack of tension in the centre makes ii easier for both sides b concentrale on development. White usually bakes advantage of Ibis by gaining space on abc queenside. 5 g3 Deveioping die also possible, but the fianchetto. 6 ig2 7 0-0 8 a4 9 aS! 10 b4 II ib2(D) Black s in danger of being overmn on (lie queenside, so the exWorld champion grants Whute the a-file in return for development of the queen’s bishop and a future challenge with ,,1b8-a8. II liS g6 bishop on e7 s flot as active as 1g7 0-o ‘2bd7e8 b8 w 32 33 *g4 h3+
KM vs Caro-Kana Defence 101 12 axb6 The only way for White 10 play for an advantage. Against other moves Black continues ,,,a7-a6, ,..ic8-b7 and ...c6-c5 or ...d6-d5. axbé ib7 14 c4 *c7 ES *b3 16 xa8 tus 17 a1 d5?I Understandably Black must have feit uncomfortably cramped. but a preparatory move such as I 7,. h6 was better if Black wanted to break oui witb ...d6-d5. I? cxd5 cxd5 19 g5! d6 If 19..h6 White can secure a safe advantage afler 20 exd5 hxg5 21 d6 exd6 22 ixaS, or enter into complications wilh 20 xf7! xt7 21 exd5 ø’d6 (or 21..4f8 22 d6! followed by ixaS) 22 c4. 20 exd5 ,ikxds Not 20,..xd5? 21 xa8 flxa8 22 ixds with a won game for While, 21 c4! ‘0c622 e3! (D) White catches bis opponent in the criss-cross of diagonals. Now 22...ixg2 is met with 23 *xt7+ h8 24 xg2. so Black bas no choice but ‘oexchange qucens, afla Which White is muçh beller. ib3 h6 hxg5 22 23 .txc6 24 a3! 25 flxb3 In many variations of the KIA Whiies build-up of pressure resulis n bis winning the bishop pair, Once this s achieved White’s initiative should then be sufficieni 10 extract ft,rlher gains. Black’s task now is ‘oiransfer his bishop from g7 1° the vuinerable qucenside. 25 ... ifs 26 27 g2 1b5 c6 g7 28 h3 ie7 29 .tc3 Ljubojevic frees his rook from the defence of lhe b-pawn so as to regain control of the a-file. 29 ... id6 30 aa3 11$ SI a8 32 id2! Intending 33 c4, hilting Ihe gpawo and threatening 34 €3xb6 tExb6 35 Uxb8. Apart from being in terrible position Black was also quito short of lime. 32 ... e4 ic7 i8h7 f8 12 13 B 33 d4 34 c8 35 ic3 Not 35...tie6 36 d5. 36 1c6 37 bS (D)
102 tUA vs Caro-Kunn Defence l-o Black Iost on lime here, but brief examination of the position shows us that White s winning. Black Ma» ..S.d6 In the following game Black does not fianchetto his king’s bishop but supports bis central advances in another fashion. AnandMalaniuk Erunze 1987 I e4 c6 2 d3 d5 3 tid2 €5 4 gfl ±d6(D) w By adopting a more ciassical approach Black flot only saves lempo by leaving oui .,g7-g6 but aise keeps watch over Ihe queenside (ibis s sometimes difficuit with the bisbop on g7 being blocked in by the eS-pawn). $ g3 5 Ée2 s worth consideration, and does have ihe meril of bypassing Blacks possibility mentioned in the nexl note because of the indirect threal 1° the e-pawn. LjubojevicBouaziz, Szirak Interzonal 1987, continued 5...*e7 6 g3 ‘2f67 1g2 0-0 8 0-0 dxe4 9 dxe4 Nbd7 10 4c4 with a minuscule edge to White. 5 An ambitious continuation 1g 5.’?e7, intending a quick strike with .17-15. Not surprisingly Ibis may prove to be a somewhat hopefuI plan, and affer 6 ig2 0—O 7 0-0 f3 White should follow fundamental principles and react mmediately by hilting back in the centre with 8 c4!, e.g. 8,..dxe4 9 dxe4 )a6 10 a3 f4 Il 1,4 when Whites initiative en the queenside and pressure against the black e-pawn oulweigh Blacks progress on the kingside. In the game Schuyler-Song, Chicago 1989. Black gave die game another character by pushing bis fpawn only one square, but White obtained s belter game: 7,,,f6 8 a3 e6 9 el ‘àd710 d4! 1g4 li c4 exd4 12 cxd5 c5 13 Mb3 g6 14 1Ec4 and Whiie eventually broke through with e4-e5. 6 ig2 O-O 7 0-0 e8 The mosi popular home for the rook. Black experimented with 7..,*c7!? in HoweII-Wells, Swansea 1987, preferring to use the d-file for the rook. There followed e I .ke6 9 c3?! (this makes d3 a larget and invites..d8. 9 h3 is preferable, when 9..,d8 10 Se2 bd7 allows Il ‘g5)9...ad8l0*e2€bd7 Il h3 h6 12 tih4 ifS 13*0 ‘c514 4ZK5 ixf5 15 exf3 cM and Whiie found himself on Ihe defensive. In faci mass exchanges did not loosen Black’s grip on (lie game: 16 dxe4 dxe4 17 *e2 d3 IX f1 e3! 19 Sxe3 kcs 20 *e2 (flot 20 Sf3 excl 21 laxcl xd2) 20,,,ÉxgJ 21 Sf3 *xfl 22Qxf3 Qe4 23 C31j4 ixd4 24 fà.xe4 ib6 25 tg2 xcI 26 axcI d2 27 c2 ad8 28 fcI &xf2 29 xd2 xd2 30 c2 ie3+ and Black went on le win, 8 h3
KIA vs Caro-Kanu Defence 103 8 aS A sensible move, as Black scems ‘odo besi iooking to the queenside for play. Concentrating on the kingside with 8..,bd7 9 el €3f8 s also possible, allhough the plan of b2-b3 and .&cI-b2 stili icaves White slightly better. 9 eI dxe4 Without doubi die safest choice at Blacks disposai, aiming for equalty by producing a symmetrical pawn sinicture, This is undoubtedly an improvement on 9..Ça6, as in Sax-Martin, Hastings 1983/84, which saw White seize a safe advantagewith iOd4! dxe4 II xe5, 10 dxe4 leS II c3?! An inaccuracy which Black 1m- mediately profits from. Bette. s I I a4. preventing the following cramping advance. II ... a4!(D) Severely limiling White’s queenside options, Consequently Anand prepares a manoeuvre which wiIl transfer bis queen’s knight from d2 (o f5. Although this is a thematic and, indeed, good idea. ii would be ail the more potent if Black did flot enjoy a considerable territorial stake on the queenskle. 12 *c2 Not the immediate 12 f1? *xdl l3ZxdI xe4. 12 ... bd7 13 tifI h6 14 e3 15 M5 @c5 Black bas countered 11w knj&,t sortie by findrng a similarly useful outpost. 16 âc7 17 This move s not a4 ail rare in several variations of Ibis opening. White adds support 10 Ihe e-pawn and threatens 40 Ut the knight on g4, whence further pressure wilI be added b f6 and h6 (and the epawn). If Black exchanges on g4 While then has an extra g-pawn (afer hxg4) with which to Éhrow al the enemy king’s pawn cover. 17 1e6 18 1e3 ed8! Black takes over the d-file thanks b 15e fact that White is tied to the defence of bis weak a2-pawn ((9 a3 ib3fl. 19 xd8 a1dR 20 tig4 Once again Black wiIi have difficuities developing his queen’s bishop. d 1 eh2!? (D) B w
104 tUA vs Caro-Kann Defence Removrng Ihe irniating a-pawn is (00 dangerous 20 .&xc5 ixcS 21 *xa4 d2 bis both f2 and 1,2 20 exg4 2! hxg4 b5 Whne’s kingside auack lacks punch, so Black continues 10 improve bis queenside Ail this was made possible because of White’s slip on move eleven 22 gS hxg5 23 ixgs f6 24 ie3 Whiie must keep he queens on the board or siand worse in an ending, so this clever move undemiines Anands defence of the e-pawn by threalening *d7-d3 25 iCI é17 26 c4 Beiter ihan the positionally suicidaI 26 a3 1b3 This way White should eventually win baçk bis pawn, leaving the c6- and a4-pawns as polential targeis 26 bxc4 27 .fkxcs ixcs 28 a3 li7 Black vacates the a2-g8 diagonal in anticipation of While capluring on c4 29 flcl êg6 Since il takes lime for While (o recoup bis slight maierial Ioss, Black shifts bis attentions 10 crealing his opponeni problems on the other flank 30 g2 Black threatened 30 ,.kxf5 followed by 31 ‘i’xg3*,so White promptly unpins bis 12-pawn 30 *gS Ostensibay Ihe killing blow, but Anand manages 10 stay in (he game by giving up bis queen for a rook and bishop 32 kxe6 axc2 33 xc2 kd4 34 :L,6 td2 This tinie ([iv black queen invades and threatens the f-pawn Preventmg this with 35 xd4 gives Black dangerous passed pawn afler 35 exd4, so how does White su n’ ive9 35 c7! Whites rook, bishop and knight work just as harmoniously as the black qucen and bishop Anand’s ibreat s 36 txg7± h8 37 g8+ h7 38 ag7t Malaniuk gels n few checks of bis own, but Ihere s nothng more 35...*xC2-t- 36 I.3 *fI+ 37 g4 ‘PdI+38 h3 *hI+ 39 g4 xe4+ 40 h3 ‘*1.!.41 Sg4 ‘dI+42 h4 *1.1+43 >g4 *e4+ 44 h3 Whl+ ‘h-A31 Àxc4 ad2(D) w
KM Black plu» d5ana’ g4 105 5 Black plays ...d5 and ..ig4 This system arises most commOn Iy after the following sequence of mo Ves I fl dS 2 g3 c6 3 ig2 ig4 (D) The ig4 variation s very popular with players of ail levels So often a piece witli whivh Black has problems. the queen’s hishop immediately finds a borne, allowing Black lie option of establishing soiid pawn centre with e6 w,thout closing the bishop ouf ofplay When Black erects lie c6-d5-e6 pawn wali, the king’s knighl usually cornes ‘of6 and (lie bishop (o e7. and afier furihering his development Black might attempt ‘opush forward with e6-e5 Using die sarne pawn structure, Black van also play tfS-d6 and Qg8-e7, when the idea s that (he freedom of lie f pawn should compensate for no longer altacking the cl-square White airnosi always hits lhe queen’s bishop with h2-h3, giving Black the choice of whether or flot 10 surrender the bishop pair Generaily Ibis s only a good idea if the resulting simplification decreases Whule’s auaclcrng potential It s befler £0 preserve Oie tension and reheat 10 hS 1-laving said this, t is surprising how many masters make Oie mistake of voluntar,ly exchangmg on f) In general, White’s space advantage and attacking possibihues give him a good garne. and Black’s position also lacks flexibilily A more aggressive course of action for Black s flic early advance e7-eS, staking a daim for a share of the space in Oie ventre White s then able ‘oput pressure on lie epawn, and the fS-square s available for lie king’s knight Tus somelimes ieads 10 Black sirnplifying by dxe4 or reheving the pressure on eS by taking on f). bodi of which are 1° White’s advantage Another important feaiure of the 1g4 variation s Blacks pin on Oie dl -h5 diagonal Because Oie KIA centres around Wide pushing wilh e2-e4, a dual-purpose move here is *el This is a good square, as nol only does White escape the
106 KIA Black plays 45 and ig4 p,n, releasing the king’s knight b pressure eS and, in the case of e7-e5 from Black, ihreatening f3-h4-f5, but also the queen helps support die advance of the e-pawn Wblte Plays an Early e4 Biyiasas-Vasiukov Hastngs 1978/79 1 ‘f3ï6 2 g3 dS 3 igZ c6 4 O-O 1g4 S d3 e6 6 ‘7M42ebd7 (D) 7 e4 White can also put die question (o the bishop here with 7 h3 This should transpose to the game, but surprisrng number oC players cx- change on O Vasyukov-Tnfunovic, USSR vs Yugoslavia 1963 cont ’nued7 h3 ixf3” 8 xO ic5 9 tel O-0 I0e4 dxe4 Il dxc4 eS 12 igs h6 13 1d2 aes 14 dI Éc7 15 eh4’ with a good game for White In the game Kogan-Seirawan, USA 1985, the Amencan GM voluntanly gave Wh.te the bishop pair aflu I ‘I3d5 2 g3 c6 3 ig2 ig4 40-O e6 5 d3 .xf3’ The idea here ‘sihat the recapture Q3xf3 ‘sflot possible, but afier 6 ixf3 4jf6 7 td2 ?ibd7 8 e4 ics 9 tc2 dxe4, 10 4he4’ (instead of 10 dxe4) would have given While the advantage 7 ie7 S el An alternative s 8 tel Then, affer Ihe moves 8 0-0 9 h3 khz we reach an important position Continuing as in our main game with 10 e5 leaves White a bute awkwardly placed after 10 e8 Il h2 êb6’, 50 Gulman-Farago, Brussels 1986, went 10 hI” ‘e8Il egi’ ec7 12 b3 dxe4 13 dxe4 e5 14 taS’ €eô 15 f4’ with a slight advantage to White The game KarasevKiovan, Podoisk 1990 saw some nteresting inanoeuvring Instead of 10 eS, Wh.te played 10 th2 eS Il df3 dxe4 12 dxe4 €e8 13 *c3’ (an excellent move which —like Gutman’s 14 *a5’ —highlights the usefulness of placing the queen on el, now 13 f6is met by 14 1b3-- and 15 *xb7, while 13 4c7 prevents the desreij plan of e8-c7-e6) 13 Qd6 14 *e3 tbé I 5 ée2 with the better game, Ihanks to Black’s knight on d6 The rest of the game ‘sentertaining 35 fd8 16 g4 f6 17 b3 if7 18 h4 ifs 19 d1 b5 20 xd7’ axd7 21 tèxf6t gxf6 22 *g4* kg? 23 xd7 d8 24 *e7 d1+ 25 h2 tZkt4 (in retum for the pawn Black bas a bind, but White has seen further Note tint 25 *xiE2 26 ie3’ *e2 27 LdI *xdl 28 *xb7 helps White) 26 ia3” axaI 27 ics’ txc5 (forced, e g 27 taS 28 b4 éxa2 29 *d84- ifs 30 *xf8 mate) 28 IxcS xa2 29 €f5 xc2 30 ee7+ f8 31 Wd6 e8 32 Qk8 ifs 33 *xf6 eS 34 txeS+ d7 35 *1,8 I-o 8 O-O w 9 h3 10 eS ihs ea(D)
KM Black plays dS and tg4 107 This s ‘lietype of position White was aiming for with 8 e1 Unlike French Defence-relaed positions Black has bis queen s bishop mitside his pawns, but the cost of Ihis luxury ‘sa delay ‘nbeginning the ihematic queenside attack White, meanwhile. ‘sable to play in Ihe classic KIA style II YI A similar position alose in the game Todorcevic-Lukacs, Rome 1988 After I O d5 2 g3 ‘f63 .g2 c6 4 d3 .kg4 5 bd2 (a clever move order whiçh guaranlees to keep a knight on 13 should Black decide to give q (lie two bishops) 5 e660-Qke77h3ahsSe4O-O 9 *e2’ bd7 O e1 a5 ii eS e8 12 fl ç7 White played 13 4’ ig6 14 tg3 h6 15 if4 bS 16 td21 eS 17 g51 wiih considerable pressure on die kingside 12 €Ih2 aS 13 iii a4 14 *d2 Also to be considered is 14 a3 (o prevent any weakening of the dark squares 14 a3 15 b3 Black bas littie urne for sucli a provocative move Better s 15 vS followed by b5-b4 and only ihen c7-b5 16 c4! e7 17 1i4 .txf3 Whte threatened 10 wrn by 18 g4 and 19 h5, but preserving Ihe bishop with 17 .kg6 may have been lesser evil 18 “hf319 ZedI 20 âc2 21 tael ib4 laS cM!? (D) Consistent with Black’s plan of dark-square pressure Now, instead of 22 xd4’ allowing 22 xe5, While prepares ‘oinfiltrate on the kingside and subsequently force either g7-g6 or h7-h6 22 ‘W’e21c3 23 Qg5 g6 24 1,5 A typical pawn Ibrusi in this opening, serving to open Ihe h-file when the time s right 24 25 *g4 26 *1,4 27 ‘e4!With Ibis move White shows (bat, despite exehanging bis dominant knight for ils passive counteqafl, the atlack will proceed unhindered Indeed Black can only tiy 10 regroup and wan for the invasion 27 Qxe4 w w ac5 afes
108 1<14 Black plays dS and 1g4 28 ixe4 ib4 29 g2! Clearing the way for the White rooks tojoin in the atiack 29 d8 30 ‘g4aas 31 hxg6 figé An even more immediate end would restaIt fi-0m 31 hxg6 as White could simply double on 11w h-file The move played puts up more resislance, but Blacks position s by now far from invuinerable 32 hl ‘d733 h6 ae7 34 chI ag7 35 1g5! (D) 35 axe5 The besl iry, as 35 le? fails to 36 tf6 ixfô 37 exf6 f7 when White breaks through with 38 ixg6’ txg6 39 Wxg6+i 36 1f6 aas 37 tigl *xg7 38 xh7! Forcing decisive material gain 38 ‘t3xh739 xe6+ f8 The endrng which would resuit aller 39 t7 40 *x174 xf7 41 axh7÷ l6 42 xb7 is hopeless foi Black (e g 42 eS 43 b6t) 40 lxg6 *e7 Or4O €f64lrh8+’ 41 *cS+ t-O Blacks queenside play came to naught Korchnoi-Flear Lugano 1986 I €f3 dS 2 g3 f6 3 ig2 c6 4 O-0 tg4 5 d3 e6 6 *el? (D) There s nothing wrong n playing Ihis standard move so early 6 èbd7 e4 dxe4 eS 1c5 Korchnoi takes advanlage of ihe extra move caused by Blacks e7-e6 followed by e6-eS Now, thanks to 6 Bel. White threatens Il fxe5 10 *e7 II €e3 hS!? The English 0M mes to revitalise bis game by inlrodueing a theorelical novelty I I t06 12 tZf5 is clearly bad for Black, 50 giving up the bishop pair with Il ixe3 12 *xe3 s Ihe lesser evil. wilh an ad vantage to While The game now takes on an unusual characler for this variation, and 111e reader would be weII advised to see how fonner B B 7 s 9 I0 dxe4 ‘bd2
KM Black plu» €13 and tg4 109 13 b4 Betterthan 13 g6 would like to attack with but this gives away the 15 c4 Qh7 Intending €h7-g5 10 eye Éhe weak h3-square 16 h3 icé 17 c3! ‘b818 d1 ic7 19 ib2 Qigs 20 ±1i221 *c2 ic8 A dual-purpose move which bolh hoisters the Ling’s position ami rnakes way for the attacking manoeuvre g5-e6-d4 Another p05- sibility s 21 xdl 22 axdl d8 23 xd8+ *xd8. but 24 eS grants White more space ami a slighl advantage on both sides of the board Korchnoi now goes on the offensive 22 bs!? 23 bxc6 Faced with the dismal prospect of 23 bxc6 24 abI .b7, Black decides to complicale malters 24 ixd4 exd4 25 cxb7 ixh3! (D) *c3 b6 ad6 In answer to the push 32 d3 While has 33 eeô-’- ‘xb734 xd3 *c5 35 21, mainlaining Elle dccisive altack by simultaneously defending f2 and threatening Zd3-c3 33 c1! *a3 34 12k4 lWcs 35 eS! dd8 World ChampionshiP challenger Vikior Kordhflol shows us the KIA s indeed aptly named wherever Black’s long bides’ 12 s3! O-O-0 (D) w a5 14 Black 14 g5, tS-square 26 bxc8t4- lemble position xd5 i4I *xh4’ 28 Wxc7+’ id6 Not 25 dxe3’ .b6 14 M and 15 xc8 27 f4 with a for Black 26 “d5!27 cxd5 Again fol 27 28 gI! Unfortunate(y for Black his energetic counter-atlacking forces a nice exchange sacrifice fron, Korchnoi 28 ixdl Consistent and tempting, but 28 gS” 29 f3 ixf3 30 ixf) g4 31 kg2 h4 may have given White more problems 29 axdl *xa3 30 ‘f3!Threalening Z1f3xd4-c6 30 31 32 I’bI e5!
110 KL4Bkckplays d5w.d 1g4 Or 35 xd5 36 exb6’, cg 36 xb6 37 *xb6 axb6 38 ixd5 36 ‘iid6!•a3 37 *c2! I-O Black cannot safely escape the Ibreat ot 38 S’cg-’ If 37 a6 38 àcs-t- xc8 39 xc84 xc8 (39 a7 40 b8t mate) 40 bxc8** a7 4 I Pb7 mate Whlte Employs a Queenside Flanchet (o Spirldonov-Shamkovich T5tILSI 1970 1ef3d52g3c63d3 Once again, ‘nanticipation oC the .ag4 variation, White cliooses (o support bis knight on f) wilh 3 d3 and 4 bd2 before posting the bishop on g2 3 g4 4 efé 5 e6 6 Exchanging wuh 6 kxf3 s even less advisablc now, thanks (o Wh,tes move order 7 0-0 .e7 Black can also play 7 kd6 with the aim of a future push with e6-e5 This plan w,ll be exam,ned la te r 8 b3D) Treating die vanalion in this manne. with two fianchettoed bishops, is a very attractive plan White conipletes his development and pressunzes Black down the long a I-h8 diagonal His pieces are well coordinated and are ready for action in any sector ofthe board 8 0-0 9 ib2 Cbd7 llubner-I Farago, Wijk aan Zec 1988 went 9 a5 10 a4 €3bd7 Il eV9 After Il h6 12êe2 c5 13 g4 ..g6 14 CeS ih7 15 f4 Wh,te had an excellent position The idea of holding back 11w e-pawn is interesting 10 e4 35 A logical côntinuation wbich Black ofier uses in ig4 and tf5 systems II s a matter cf taste whether White answers a7-a5 with a2-a4 or a2-a3, although the former s generally more popolar Black wilI endeavour ‘oopen up the qucenside with the plan of b7-bS and bsxa4, meeting LIxa4 with Cd7-b6!cS Iollowed by a5-a4, or bSxa4 w,th play on Ihe b-file and againsi White’s a-pawn Carcumstances wiII dictate White’s choice of approach In this particular game, White has calculated precisely tInt the placing of his oppOnenl’S pieces could embarrass Black should t1w latter persevere with die standard queenside attack against Il a3 II a3 *1,6 In Spiridonov-l-lennrngs, Orebro 1966. Black developed with I I Cc5 12 *e2 *c7 Afier I) g4’ ig6 14 Ce5 dxe4 15 dxe4 fd7 16 f4’ f6 17 exg6 hxg6 18 e5 White stood much better 12 ‘teza4? Cbd2 h3 B
KIA Biackpiays d5anci ig4 iii Aiihoogh ibis s Ihe usuai method of baiteflng White’s queenside. il (ails mb Spindonovs trap A haler —albeit siower —continuation would be 12 w.ih 11w idea of 13 c4 dxc4’9 followed by 14 fd8 ii b4 Ii would 6e wrong to allow a4xb3, leaving White wuh a weak a-pawn Black’s pawn structure, on ihe other hand, would be very solid, and this fact, combrned w,th pressure on 11w a-file would give Black the advantage 13 cS? Ail according 10 plan, but t ‘sWhite who bas ihe more siable position 14 exd5 exd5?l Instead 14 xd5 s met by the naturai 15 c4 with a Wh,te advantage, since Blacks aggression bas resulted In produting weaknesses ‘nhis own camp However. in recapuring with the pawn Shamkovich bas grossiy underest,mated the polential power of Wh,te’s minor pleces 15 Éxe7! feS Winnmng the queen, but al what cost, 16 .xf6! txe7 Not 16 x(6’ 17 Éxc5 Il .xe7 (D) In return for bis queen White has a mot bishop and knigbt The next step ‘sto use his domination of die dark squares to create unchailengeable outposts for bis strongesi pieces 17 *c7 18 fel f6 A dual-purpose move wh,ch both adds to Black’s l,m,ted daim to the dark squares and prepares b defend the d-pawn with ihs-f7 19 bicS 20 tj44 21 b5! 22 .xc5 23 tb4! A wonderful square for the bishop Blacks problem s that ihere s preoous littie for bis queen to altack, while White’s harmonious pieces, a,ded by bis control of the dark squares, remain flexible 23 .,. ZeS 24 e4? White uses his other bishop to challenge the enemy pawns 24 î’d7 25 xeS+ *nS 26 exd5 *e5 27 tdl! (D) A simple but effective plan Afier the forced exchange of bis bishop Black wmIl bave the hopeless task of blockading the d-pawn with bis Ione xc5 f7 ‘êd7txbS 8
112 KIABlackpkys d5and 1g4 queen. so Wbite prepares for Ihe push 27 ... .txd5 28 tc4 td4 29 ixd5+ txdS 30 e3 ed4 31 4c2 Qb2 32 d2 àbl+ 33 h2 l-O An inleresting gaine which shows how weIl White’s pieces work wgetlier in ibis opening Despite playing normal, even Ihenialic. moves on the queenside, Black suddenly lound himself ‘na tenible position Whites move order in the above game was designed b answer an eventual .xO with d2xf3, rather than have to recapture with Éhe bishop Readers who may want ‘ocouple Ibis idea with Ihe plan of fianchettoing the queens bishop should avoid Ihe followiiig trap Ribli-Geller, Budapest 1973 saw an important idea after the opening rnoves I \I3 tf62g3 d53.g2 cô 4 b3 g4 5 b2 Qbd7 ô d3 e6 7 bd2 ae7 White aubomatieally bu ilie bishop wilh 8 h39’ Black played 8 .axl3’’ when Wh,Ie’s only way 10 play for an advantage is 9 xf3 as after 9 xf3” Black can take advanlage o! While’s uncastled king w,*h 9 83Ç 10 .xa3 ta54- with equality ,Jansa-Keene Au; bus 198? I g3 12f6 2 ‘fldS 3 ag2 c6 4 0-0 g4 5 b3 Here lança makes use of a move order designed ‘oprevent an early e7-e5 froni Black s 6 7 8 bd2 O-O 9 tel Tue immediate 9 e4 ‘salso possible, when 9 dxe4 10 dxe4 tes” s inleresting. taking advantage of the pin 9 e5 Losing a lempo eompared with hues n which the Black e-pawn reaches this square in 011e move Blacks compensation lies in his bemg able ‘opropcrly organise bis position before the push 10 e4 e8 II h) More recently some players have been ibrowing in Il a3’’ a5 before 12 h3 .ihs 13 h4 llow much ofa difference Élus makes depends on Blacks cpI>’ a) I) f8 14 exdS ixd5 (14 cxd5 5 c4) 15 c4 s even berter for Whiie than SpraggettChemin, below b) 13 ecs 14 f5 kc7 15 f4 (l5hl) 15 exf4 l6gxf4dxe4 Il xe4 follows the same path as the main game, but die extra moves of the a-pawns mean ihat White eau tiy li dxe4 because Blacks bishop cannol corne b aS here (sec ilote b White’s lôth move) €bd7 e) 3 has not been scen n e6 top cornpeiition since Podgacis.kd6 Beliavsky, Kiev 1973, thouglu il s w .b2 di
KIA Black plays d5and 1g4 ilS B 11w solid ihe kind of move one would expect w sec al club level Afler 14 f4 exf4 15 gxf4 dxe4 16 dxe4 ‘2f817 e5 18 h I c7 19 €f5 (ht c7-rook was n°1 helping matiers on ihe kingside, ami 19 g6 20 4h6+ h8 21 *h4 1Î45 22 e64 was ai- kingside The diagram position bas ansen by differen toutes often in intemalionai cbess White has a choice of plans In SpraggeilChemin, Paris 1989, Black played 12 7f8, hoping 10 meet the aggtessive 13 f4 with 13 dxe4 14 dxe4 ready w,nning for White d) 13 *c7 14 f5 .c5 15 hl ad8 16 f3 bS 17 ‘V3h4ifS 18 exf4 15 gxf4 1ig6’ White, however, elected to light for light square control by opening up 11w centre c3” a8 19 g4 .g6 20 a4 wilh 13 exd5” €xd5 (Whiles tUA Darnhjanovic-Dreev, Tilburg 1994 bishop would have command of the White has an edge e) 13 .acs 14 hi “ffi15 f4 long hi-aS diagonal af(er 13 exds 14 M’) 14 df3’ *d7 15 c4”4b4 exf4 (15 dxe4) 16 gxf4 dxe4, and 16 *e4 White bas more control now in Damljanovic-Hodgson, Bel- and slands betier The game grade 993, White rejected die known 17 dxe4 id4 18 ixd4 conlinued 6 ici 17 LdI’ adS (flot 17 txa2 18 d4’ exd4 19 Ixd4 19 e5 .g6 20 *f2 *xf2 21 gxf2 d5 22 &c4 with an edge, as WbI’ tib4 20 xd4 when, for Ihe sacrificed pawn, While bas a horde in Bjamason-Mednis, Reykiavik 1982, in favour of the new 17 Zxe4 of pieces ready *0 atlack 11w opposing king) 18 a3’ Qc2 (While’s ixe4 18 dxe4 f6 19 *g3 ig6 d-pawn S also poisoT)ed, as afler Then 20 Ldl 4c7 2! M’ axb4 22 axb4 ibô (flot 22 jxt,4’ 23 18 exd3 19 b4 traps the knight), ami now 19 td2i tZd4 20 ‘xd4*b3+) 23 txg6 hxg6 24 c4 leaves exd4 21 *f5 was necessary, Black facing die bishop pair and siruggiing b breathe Instead White preserving White’s advantage 12 tScS chose 20 f5 1h5 21 eS wilh the Now Spraggett’s nteresting idea makings of an ailack s oui of the queslon as 13 exd5 II .h5 cxd5 l4c4loseslo 14 xd3 12 tujh4! (D) 13 €f5 1c7 14 f4! While voluntarily places bis centre under fire so as 10 open up ‘mesagainsi Blacks king 14... exf4 15 gxf4 Akopan prefers 16 2he4! tuni the tables wilh 16 17 In answer to 16 dxe4 Black can *g3ig6 16 ... Qfxe4 z rj4 •z 4/*y/ LÀ 4V4 À A À •À*4I S uIÀ% •pj r% ffl A S iW With his development cornpletel Whiie undertakes action on the 17 dxe4
1)4 KIA Black plays dS and _g4 Jansa gins 17 Qxg7I as an adventrnous alternative Blacks best s 17 ef6, when 18 exe8’ is a mistake on account 0f 18 41xe8 19 éc3 f6 (20 txc5” ib6) Instead 18 txf6’ rxel 19 ixdS xaI 20 axaI xdS 21 €xh5 resuits in a position in whicli Black has some compensation for the pawn deficit The game mon ‘sflot so hazardous, and guarantees a powerfkii nihative n’en afler Dlack’s mosi accurate de fence II ... ee6! The only move Attempting te eut off White’s qucens bishop with 17 f69doesnotwork,eg 18*h4 g6 i9 adI *cS 2Oxg7’ 18 Wg3 g6 Akopian gives 18 f6 19 4’hl as vleariy betier for White, while 19 *h4 ig6 20 adl *b8 (or 20 *c8 21 d6) 21 d7 ixfS 22 exfS 1xf4 23 xg7+i is one possible way for Black to Iose 19 adI (D) B 19 ‘x14!?Jansa’s own suggestion, 19 *68, bas been waiting a long time to be tested ai the top level li was eventuaIly given an oniing in Akoptanlonoy, El Vendrell 1996 but, unfortunately fer Black, Akopian had camed oui a thorough Investigation ef this variation 20 ‘ê3i (Jansa gave ihe une 20 €)xg7 xg7 21 tc3 f622 txf6 €h5 23 4h8+ f7 24 tc3 —Akopian’s move stiil ibreatens destruction on the long diagonal, and he bas flot yet frnished with bis knight) 20 &xf4 (20 f621 d7 is decisive) 21 xf4 (nol 21 xg7’ .ke5) 21 *xf4 22 fI I (again the temptrng 22 €3xg7’ helps Black, e g 22 aeds 23 f1 *d2 and the battie continues) 22 f6 (22 *c7 23 €ixg7 w,ns for White, while 22 *g5 23 h4i 9g4 [23 *hS 24 .kf3] 24 eh6÷ is nice) 23 xf4 t?xf4 24 *f3 and die game had a fitting end 24 exg2 (24 ..xf5 at leasi denies White his picturesque finishing theme) 25 ‘ih6+’h8 (or 25 f8 26 .a3-1 ae7 27 x2 and one pin prevems another) 26 Wxf6’ (D) B 26 gs (I hope you ail saw 26 gxf6’ 27 ixf6 mate) 27 *f2 :ge8 28 tf6 g8 29 éf? rgea 30 xg2 xe4 31 à’f6’ g8 32 *c3 re2*33g3 l-0 20 *xf4?! Against Keene’s 19 xf4, which Alcopian believes is Black’s oniy va as 1151g n P4411 • P461
KIA Black plays d5 and ..g4 fi move, the Armenlan star had pre ared tIW improvemeflh 20 ZxdS e2 21 ±21xg3-- 22 xe2 axd8 23 xg3 wdh a clear advantage to White 20 ..- ixf4 Not 20 é’xdl’ 21 Ixc7 ‘êxc222 ixg7 lxfS 23 xf5 with a won gaine for While 21 xd8 22 xf4 23 f1 24 .ac3 Preventing an nvamon on d2 24 f6 25 f2 ixfS 26 exf5 and White’s bishops are stronger than a rook Black Plays ..1d6 and ...ee7 fle plan of developing the king’s bishop on d6 and the ldnight on e7 s designed 10 keep out of hann’s way. enabling Black te attack on the queenside La zic-Dizda r Yugosla Ch 1990 I tifl dS 2 g3 ig4 3 1g2 c6 4 O-O ed7 S d3 e6 6 ‘Zbd21d6 7 tel Whute dots not have to move bis queen away from the dl-h5 diagonal althougli he must subsequently be prepared (o meet d7-e5 at some point, when Black ,nlends te exchange a couple of mrnor pieces The game Darnijanovic-Kosic, Yugoslav Ch 1990, proceeded in (bis manner Whi(e played 7 e4 4e7 8 h3 ihs 9 eb3’ Afler 9 Je5 lOée2 jxf3 Il kxf3 xf3+ 2 ‘êxf30-0 13 g2 dxe4 14 dxe4 eS I5dl *c7 161e3 aads I7ée2 ‘tcg18 a4 1e7 19 a5 While had a slight edge fle double fianchetto s also possible 7 b) tje7 g ib2 0-0 9 h) .ths 10e4(D) A standard position White is content ‘obring out his pieces, Black ‘ssoltd 0f course f he makes the mistake of trying for no more for (00 long, Black runs the risk of bemg pushed off the bond Some players who are attrac(ed to the .g4 variation have difficuhy knowing when to step op a gear or which plan te undertake when the lime does corne ilere are a few sample unes a) lU tes Il tel eS 12 h4 tb6 13 *e3’, Portisch-Ivkov, 4m- sterdarn 1970. s slightly better for White.eg I) d4 14te1 f615 f4, orl3 f614f4 b) With 10 aS” li a3 b5 Black, anticipaling the corning atiack on bis king, gets to work on the queenside In Kengis-Smagin, USSR 1988, Whde wasted no lime, either l2g4.g6 l3esic7 14te2c5 15 eI a4 16 f4 ra6’ (D) For the moment White is Iosing (lie pawn race, but he bas he advanage of anacking the king, leaving bis opponen with less rooni for ego’- axd8 Zd I + ed8 B
116 KlABlackpfays dîand .ag4 The retreat 9 .h5 s also played a) iOh4 ai) Lazic-Dzevlan, Yugoslav Ch 1991, went 10 tbS II f4, when Black countered with the themaiic Il f5 The game continued 12 exd5 exds 13 df3 e8 14 *f2 acs 15 te3 xe3+ 16 *xe3 tjg6 17 *d4 .xfl (better s 17 hxh4 18 exh4 with White having a positional advantage) 18 xf5’ f6 19 .xO, and White eventually converted his extra pawn mb a win a2) 10 Qg6 Il xg6 .xg6 12 hl e8 13 f4 f6 14 €M3 *b6 and Black was Just a fraction worse ‘nA Davmd-C Toth. U26 World Team Championsh,p, Paranana 1993 ilaving said Ihal, in practice White tends (o generate dangerous attacking chances with bis advancrng kmngside pawns b) 10 tZh2 prepares the same push of the t-pawn while denyrng Black he chance 1° exchange a pair ot knighls Black, too, bas a say in what happens 1° die centre pawns bi) 10 e5 challenges Wh,Ie to go ahead as planned In DamijanovicSmagin, Yugoslavia 1992, Whie changed bis mmd and played die in- consistent Ii 4b3 ig6 12 *e2, when 12 f5 saw Black sbke daim for die centre Damijanovic must have been impressed with Black’s aggressive plan for lie ried t himself against Vujadmnovic a year laler ‘nCetinje This Urne, instead of die timid I I tZb3 White did play Il f4. and after li exf4 (2 gxf4 dxe4 13 dxe4 f6 14 Qmc4 ..c7 15 a4 “g616 ie3 e8 Vujadinov,c’s proposed 17 *f2 (17 aS’’) leaves the game weII balanced White bas more space and his t-wo centre pawns cover key squares, but O—O note iliat these pawns arc susceptiNe to at(ack if While s no! carefui, w White shouid now have piayed I 7 h4’ when we sec the idea behind Black’s lôth move 17 f5’ 18 exf6 ‘txf619 h5 .e8 with a complex siruggie abead e) 10 c5 II ‘PeIec6 12 h2 (12 4h4”) 12 d4” We are folIowing Ljubojevic-Van der Wiel, Amsierdan, 1991 Black sends bis knigh in 10 make bis own threa, or at Ieast induce a weakening of the dark squares in WhiIe’s camp The drawback s the neglection of the d5-pawn 13 .xd4 cxd4 14 exd5 exd5 (5 .xd5 1c7 (15 e8 16 e4) l6’?ic4aeg 17’d2e2 18 ‘g5when I 8 f6 would have given Black enough for the pawn Let us return to 7 *el 7 t2e7W) ÀAIIflÀZÀ • sna • •SttF4 j e4 w s 9 h3
KIA Rlackplays d5and g4 117 nid Black s minor pieces are also reasonabty placed b2) 10 Ii8 15 a less commital approach li f4 f6 (covering eS and providing the h5-b.shop with an escapefregrOup route) 2 ‘hIa5 13 €df3 c5 (D) Cvitan-Lal,c. Pula 994 The pawn race ‘snow under way AIthough White can do nothing to hait the armada of black pawns on the qucenside perhaps his provocative play during the next kw moves does not quite work 14 b3 a4 15 J.b2a3 l6..c3d4 l7id2andlur- ing Blacks pawns forward witli the bishop bas b some extent closed the qucenside so Ihat White can Iurn to the other wing for the usual storm or. the king Kowever one key pawn break stili remains 17 Qk6 18 g4 .tf7 19 f3 (relinquishrng the eS-square 1° three black pieces scems unnecessaiy while White bas other constructive moves available) 19 c7 20 *cI exf5 21 gxf5 bS 22 g4 c4 23 rgl ZacS with chances for both sides The increasing pressure on the c-file should be enough 1° distract While from his brutal plans on the g-file 10 Qixf3 *b6 Il hI aS 12 d2 a4 13 bI 33 0f course While could have played 13 a3 10 prevent die following weakening of the dark squares on tue queenside, but Lazic judges that the advanced a-pawn may prove to be more of a liability than an asse; iffllack overplays his hand 14 b3 1b4 15 NeZ ic3 16 b4! An excellent move which aims to prevent Black from taking control ofthe qucenside 16 Not 6 ixb4’ 17c3 17 tb3! 18 .xb2 19 a3 20 bI! (D) White s about to safely take 11w b2-pawn, leaving Black with no compensation Black plays an early ...e5 D.mlj anovic-C.Hansen NCH York Open 1987 I g3 dS 2 fl QM6 3 ig2 c6 4 O-O g4 5 di ebd7 6 tbd2 6M Lev Gutrnan s fond of die immediate 6 *el The game w b2 ax!2 Qc8 B
If S KM Black plays d5 and Agi 8 e4 dxe4 For S 1d6 see the nexi main gaine 9 dxe4 ic5 Kramnik and other top players have used 9 ie7 with success How White continues depends on where he wants to develop the qoeen’s bishop a) 10 b3 0-0 Il ib2 •oi and now ‘nVaganian-Kramnik, Novgorod 1995, Ihe MA specialisi was rather impatient with 12 0491. giving rise to a Reti position which does not promise White anything special 12 a5 13 a3 fd8 14 S’c2 Çe8 15 1c3 f6 16 b4 (othenvise White experiences problems on die d-file, e g 16 €ih4 ec5) 16 €46 and Kj-amnik was already doing fine Instead of the premature and eS (D) commital thrust of hie c-pawn White could have secured an edge w,th I! a3 aS 13 tel aleS 14 h4 b) 10 el prepares a diffèrent sehup on the queenside Then 10 0-0 lI €k4 (II h4 aes 12 f5 ifs s level) I àc7, w,th another decision regarding 1ko merits of b7-b5 bI) 12 a4 fe8 13 id2 itE 14 i03 ixf3 15 ixf3 guarantees White a pull wilhool weakening Ihe queenside pawns In GulmanSmejkal, German League 1987, Black hit out anyway with 15 bS, bol aller 16 axb5 he was vulnerable on d5 and a5 b2) 12 .td2” ignores die threat’ by bringing a third piece £0 attack a5. a square thal Black wilI be unable (o adequately defend if he kicks die knight oui of c4 G Mohr-Kragelj, Portoroz 996, saw White’s experiment tested 12 afes 13 h4 bS 14 ia5 *bS 15 4e3 Qk5 16 4ef5 ifS with a balanced game h s flot clear how 6 Gutman-Smejkal, West Germany 1987 saw White maintain the usual slighl advantage aller 6 e5 7 e4 dxe4 (better than 7 d4’’ 803’ eS 9 ea3) 8 dxe4 .&e7 9 €bd2 0-0 10 h3’ ih5 II tzk4 *c7 12 a4 fe8 13 id2 ifS 14 ic3 ixf3 15 ixi) b5 16 axb5 Iwo years later in Gutman’Rogers, Moscow O n 1989, Black deviated from 8 e7 with die premalure 8 ixf3 There followed 9 ixf3 leS 10 4d2 0-0 II tL3c4 ée7 12 id2 €b6 13 4e3 e6 14 b3 g6 15 a4 rad8 16 *e2 feS 17 adl h5 18 g2 g7 19 a5’ a8 20 *c4’ te7. when 21 c3’ (followed by b3-b4) woold have Iefl White considerably better Instead Gutman played 11w faulty 2 b4’, allowing 21 xd2’ 22 axd2 ixM 23 ad3 txa5 flints LÂEI4IIA*À • rjs g 1,11 •S74. p; rin t One advaniage of an early e7-e5 s Ihat Black no longer has to worxy about j future e4-eS from White Also. a tempo s saved compared with those unes in which Black first plays e7-eb and tiien t-eS However, the early advance may resuit in die eS-pawn being a weakness, and L3Iack has less control over Ihe squares d5 and f3 7 hI 1115 w
KM Blackplays d5and kg4 119 White van profit from holding back the a-pawfl, though b7-b5 has no, becO a greal success, ejlher, as White’S kiught ‘sjus’ as happy on f5 jo *el Moving the queen to release the knight (rom tue pin ‘salmost auto- matit with the bishop on h5. 30 much go that there has been no need w look for alternatives However, In Cynan-Irloweli, Liechtenstein 1994, Whiie posted his queen more activeI Afier 10 a4 0-O Cvitan played II e8 12 W’c4 (D) B in tael Ihe queen was busy enougli w enable White te gradually trade pieces until he reached an end10g in whivh Ibis superior, dominatmg piece was the decisive factor The game continued 12 ifS 13 ‘îh44k5 14 ib3 fd7 15 tZhcS €ixcs 16 ie3 1i3e6 17 iV3’ ixf3 18 €xl3 *c7 19 fdI b6 20 d2 ad8 21 adl rxd2 22 xd2 tcs 23 ixcs xc5 24 a5’ e6 25 M bxa5 26 bxa5 and now 26 *xa5 27 W’xc6 s niuvh beller for While due 10 his increased influence in the centre, so Black accepted a very cramped position with 26 d8 27 xd8+ 3xd8 2g tc5 f6, hoping that die symmetrical pawn slmcture would give him drawing chances The test of the game highlighls the difference bet-ween the two queens 29 €d2 43e6 30 *c4 P 31 b3 e7 32 €k5 èxcs 33 *xc5-’- e8 34 a6 (D) B 34 *d7 35 h4 d8 36 h5 h6 37 c4 tdI+ 38 g2 *d7 39 L8+ tc7 40 c5 (the net closes in) 40 *g4 41 f3 *d7 42 taS *d2 43 h3 *d7-- 44 h4 I-O This game is a good advert for tue plan oftdl-e2-c4 (remember (o rule out b7-b5 with the space gainrng a2-a4) Ail other things being equal, Wbile has a small advantage whivh is deceptively dangerous If the queen ‘sproperly used to help von- tain Black while simultaneoosly contributing te the graduai accumulation and subsequent exploitation of ternlory, then accurate defence s requ iied 10 In the game K,ndermann-Gelfand, Munich 1991, Black did not worry about a possible €f3-h4 from White, preferring 10 keep his bishop pair for a littie longer 10 0-0 II Qc4 eS 12 a4 â’c7 13 ‘h4’ifS 14 jg5 with a more active position for White The autematic 14 h6” s simply met by 15 1d2 ecs 16 g4 ig6 17 xg6 fxg6 18 *4, wh,ie JJA. JflVIflA
120 KIA Bkckplays d5and 1g4 14 b5 weakens the d5-square aller 15 axb5 cxb5 16 ee3 Best for Blaek s 14 .g6 15 dl h6 16 .xf6 €xf6 17 exg6 fxgô lB h4, when White has a minuscule edge Ii kxf3 The recapture with te bishop is betier here as Wbite wants to deploy bis remaining knight on c4, bence t will pressure the squares aS. b6, d6 and eS II O-O I? a4 An important and common niove, fighting for space on te queenside and aiming ‘osecure an outpost on c4 for tue knight Now a future b7-b5 from Black gives White the a-file aller a4xbs and, assuming Black in turn takes back witb the cpawn further weakens the dS -square 12 *‘e7 13 *e2 aS 14 c4 e8 Beginning ont of Bbck’s more desirable manoeuvres ( QM6-e8- c7e6), bol al 11w cost ol structural weaknesses on the qucenside The alternative 14 ‘b6would force Whitc b switch his attentions (o the kngside aller 15 e3 g6 16 h4, with 11w usual slighl advantage 15 d2 b6 16 ..g4! (D) B the bisbop on an- Redeployng other diagonal 16 Qc7 17 g2 18 c3 g6 19 kh6 fe8 20 h4 f6 21 radl 22 h5! Keep an eye on Whitc’s h-pawn 22 ad8 23 tI xdI 24 xdI d8 25 bI! Il ‘sofien very useful for White in these positions to exehange one pair of rooks keep the other on the board In this way White can attack on the kingside without the possibility of a dangerous counter from Black down the d-file Ilere Blacks coming invasion ‘saimed at relieving the pressure rater than producmg direats 25 *d7 26 S’f3 *d3 A forced concession Black must enter mm a disadvantageous endgame rater than sft back and let White dictate matters If 26 •e7 27 .e3i eyes Blacks weak b-pawn whilst at Ihe same lime keeping tbreatening stance on the kingside Even worse for Black is 26 ftf79, eg 27 hx6 hxg6 28 €xe5’ fxe5 29 ah8. g7 30 h6+ 27 xd3 rd3 White bas a much better game Now 28 idl is a gond move, intending te take up residence on te a2-gS diagonal, but White brings bis king te the centre instead 28 f I d8 29 e2 30 f3?! Another shght inaccuracy, aithough White is shil weII on top Better was 30 f4 or 30 .e3 ZU •fl*1 J, %ÀÀÂ a-ni ri s rtn I rArA
KIA Blackplays dsand .g4 121 30 tjg7 3! 116 ecs! 32 e3! xe3 33 xe3 A clever way of distractrng White s attention from Black’s weak qucenside 1f now 34 €xb6 s good for Black lnslead Wliite creates a passed pawn ‘norder *0 mainlain his initiative 34 Cxd6+ xd6 35 b4 axb4 Otherwise Wbile wili invade down the b-file, e g 35 LIX 36 bxa5 bxas 37 bl when Blacks aand c-pawns would make easy targels for White 36 cxb4 d4 37 bI ‘e73 aS! bS Leaving White with a b-pawn b ony about 39 f4 While waiis 10 ,ach the lime con- (roi The more direct 39 a6 was botter 39 40 ab3 41 .c8! Threatcning42 a6 41 42 ieé! 43 ig8! (D) WhHe’s middlegame pressure on the kingside —particulariy Ihe advance h4-h5h6 —aiso served another purpose, as Black wiil now have to contend with ano*her ontsuie passed pawn Note thaI 43 d3 eS’ is anclear The ganie conciuded 43 txb4 44 .xh7 c2+ 45 *12 dz+ 46 gI d1+ 47 g2 48 h3 c7 The rook and pawn ending resultmg from 48 LII 49 b2 hl+ 50 g2 xh6 5 I axc2 xh7 52 fxeS fxes 53 xc6 s very good for While 49 fieS fxe5 50 b2 fld7 SI €44 52 h7 xh7+ 53 ixh7 cS 54 .xg6 c4 55 fl c3 56 tbl b7 57 g4 I-0 Vaganian-Torre Moscow Olymp,ad 1994 i en dS 2 g3 c6 3 .g2 i4 4 d3 Cd7 5 0-0 €gf6 6 tLbd2 eS 7 e4 ..d6 S h) .h5 9 exd5!? A fairly recent idea 9 cxd5 10 e4(D) 4d7 bS d8 Ca6 B ZAfL t’ B •ii j 11 fil SAS
122 KlAlilackplays d5wtd _g4 Not unlike Gelman-Lastin, White prefers to undermine Black’s oslensibly solid centre and clear the long diagonal for bis bishop rallier than engage in a slow, manoeuvnng game Afier a subsequent c4xd5 he can accentuate the pressure on the queenside by bringing the queen oui 10 1,3, which also lifts the pin on the dl-h5 diagonal and mighl bave Blacks lighi-squared bishop withoui a role Black might eleci le fix the d-pawns with 10 d4, when While bas subi achieved bis goal of drastically increasing the scope of Ihe g2-bishop 10 0-0 10 d4l1*e20-012g41g613 h4 with a grip on Ihe light squares, King-Norwood, German League i994 Il cxd5 ixd5 12 ‘b3Black will be (00 busy keeping his own qucenside intact te find lime te hit the d3-pawn Ideaily While would like £0 profit from bis hypermodern pattern of development by offering ‘oopen the posr lion stilI turuher wilh d3-d4 al some stage In the meanlime While should resisl 11w lemptalion to grab the b7-pawn with his queco until ii s completely saie In an earlier game. Hodgson-De la Villa Garcia, Dos Hermanas 1992, White first hit Ihe bishop with 12 ec4i7 1c7, then played 13 tb3 with Ihe idea of taking on e5 £0 cave the d5-knighl unprolecled AQer 13 15b6 14 1g5’ *e8(14 f6” l5Qcxe5+) I5acl (15 feI also looks good, eg 15 tlixc4 16 *xc4 tc8 17 ‘h4xt3 18 ixfj f619 1d5+ h8 20 .ke3) 15 €xc4 16 *xc4 reg 17 h4 b6 I 8 *dS the b7-pawn was stili hanging and While had succeeded n relaining the initiative 12 ... 45f6 For the moment Black need flot worry about bis b-pawn The alternative is b drop die knight back 10 b6, which denies While the useful c4-square for bis knighl Then Whule swilches to Plan B 12 5b6 13 Qe4, and now 13 c5 Ioses a pawn 10 14 xc5 ixc5 I 5 exe5, so Black must teIreat anoiher piece 13 ie7 (13 ic7 14 .g5) 14 a4 flS (14 h8 15 aS f5, VaganianKhalifman, Eupen 1994, is only shghlly worse for Black but ai least keeps White on bis tocs, while the odd 14 fbS’ bas been suggesled) 15a5ec8 16d4’(D) B Perlect timing Clearing away the Iast two centre pawns s sure (o give White dangerous attacking chances lhanks to bis more active pieces, whule the d-pawn could cause havoc if allowed 10 advaqce unchecked In M lvanov-Kharitonov, Moscow 1995, While dominated ——16 ixf3 17 ixO d6 (17 exd4” 18 &f4 L8 19 Ixb7) 18 rdl Sc7 (18 ‘xe419 ixe4 tc7 20 .te3 exd4 21 txd4 22 1g2 gives Black nothing to compensate for ceding the bishop pair) 19 c3 (19 ie3 efS 20 d5 4xe3 2) *xe3 ib4 22 d6 4d8 23 g4 f6 24
KIA Black plays dS and ig4 123 exf6 fxf6 25 d7 illustrates (lie 0lentLaI of the d-pawn if White chooses another pa*h) 19 fe8 (or 19 exd4 20 1Zd5 *d8 21 if4) 20 eds Wd8 22 dxe5 xe5 22 .tg2 (22 exe7 WxeJ 23 if4) 22 (22 3ec4 23 if» 23 ie3 and now Blacks besi liope is 23 €c6 24 *a4 a6 25 .tb6 with an unenviable defensive task ahead, but he buckled under pressure with 23 a6° 24 ib6 ‘5d725 1c7 bc8 26 ..xd6. losing the exchange (27 tb6) and with t Éhe game It s interesting that in bis noies to the game Ivanov ‘ssurprised al either his opponent’s apparent ignorance of Vaganian’s model gaines with this une or otherwise, a strong players willingness 10 take ‘ton13 ec4! 13 ee4 wastes a wonderful opportumty 1° make lite difficuit for Black In Norwood-Adams, British Ch 989. die symmetry resulting from the trade of knights in the centre produced instani equality 13 €xe4 14 dxe4 ‘ZkS15 *d5 ixf3 16 kxf3 ‘Sf617 ig2 fd8 8 ie3 kf8 19 *c4 d3 etc As I mentioned earlier White should be wary of taking ihe b7-pawn Here, for inslance 13 *xb7” is Ioo nconvenient after 13 t?c5 14 ‘B15b8 15 *c4 .g6 16 tZeI c8, when Black has easily enough play for the pawn 13 ic7 The lexi was a new move al flic tinle. attem ting *0 improve on 3 4k5 14 a3(D) TIns powerful move 15 by no means easy 10 find or expeci ai die bond, and ‘Iis sure b corne as an Unpleasani surpnse for Ihe defender Rather Ihan being open to aitack on the a3-fS diagonal the queen ‘squile merlacing a) If Epishin’s fate againsl Vaganian n Moscow 1996 s anything to go by, mere mottais should tread carefully if they wish b use tIns variant of the ig4 une 14 c8 15 Qxd6 *xd6 16 1e3 b6 17 txe5l 1Z34j5(17 xe5 18d4) I8d4Qxe3 19 fxe3 and White was a safe pawn to 11w good with a nasty pin b) In anolher episode from Iearn with Vaganian, Black simply par*ed with bis e-pawn In relurn for some drawing chances VaganianKaidanov, Glendale 1994 saw Black rewarded with a bide short-Ienn activity and a firm blockade on hie d-file, but White s rarely Iimited b single plan when there are several pieces remaining on die board 14 ixf3 15 ixf3 .te7 16 Qixe5 ‘2cd717 *c3 c8 18 ‘Seli (there is no point being stubborn with 8 in view of 18 ic5 19 *f4 ‘2xe520 txeS *xd3 2 I ixb7 1d4 22 ‘SgSh6 23 ‘Sf4rc2, when Black enjoys much more play than he deserves) 18 .c5 19 exd7 txd7 20 g2 b6 (20 *xd3’ 21 kxb7 gces 22 *c3) 21 igs ‘Sf522 1d2 id4 23 ie3 cd8 24 adl d7 25 fel fd8 and alihough Whie’s extra pawn does flot amount to much at the moment t remains a constant worry ‘oBlack, who faces die prospect of a long defe nce B
124 MA Black plays dS w,d ig4 14 ie3! 14 c5 is stiil flot advisable, but witli c5 now covered White f,nally threatens £0 capture Oie b-pawn 14 b6 15 feI c8?!(D) w lie most sensible looking moves are no necessarily the besi li s nalural 1° remove the rook from the finng inc of White’s bishop 00W that Vaganian’s plan has been accomplished and the long diagonal ‘sclear 1-lowever, in view of what happons ‘nthe game perhaps Black shoold have lhsI tunied to lis other rook. for afier t 5 aes he defends the eS-square with onough pieces to answer the ihematic 6 d4 with 16 e4, when I 7 fe5 s not available b White 16 d4! li s fitting that White s able to turu tIc screw by giving bis weak pawn a taste of tIc action Again we have an exanple of (lie removal of pawns in Oie centre working to tIc benefit of tIc fiaflchettoed bisliop. which s one of the reasons (lie variations based on the solid c6-d5 centre have a deserved reputation for their reliability Taking on d4 or permiibng d4xe5 could prove embarrassing for Rlack’s queen after rai -dl, but he e-pawn cannot stop oui of the challenge immediateIy as 16 e4 I? tZfc5 highlights tIc new hole on c6 and undermines lIe defence 0f (le e-pawn Consequently Black is forced (o make a concession in order to keep lIe d-file closed 16 ixfl 17 ixo M Even if c6 is 1m lofiger threatened by an enemy knight Black should avoid 17 exd4 18 S.xd4 with a clear advantage to (le bishop pair 18 ig2 res 18 a6’ must be an improvemefli Apart from keep.ng the queen oui of b5. which is a surpnsingly effective post, Black can then enlertam the possibiliiy of b6-b5, giving his bishop some freedom afld rnakrng b6 available for a future d7-b6-d5 etc This s ceiiainly preferable ‘otIc cramped conditions Black is experiencing now, 50 (18 a6 19 a4 followed by brrnging the queen’s rook (o cl or dl s practically lIe only way 10 stay on top 19 rad 19 s worth considering 19 1,6?! Black ‘sflot sure which of lis problems requires Oie most attention so lie seules for a standard safety move, giving the king 50mo air and ruling ouI a tIc pinning ie3-g5 for good Meanwh,Ie, over on the queenside and to some extenl in the centre, Black s vulnerable on tIc light squares Morcover letung tIc bishop go rn force hrough li e4 means lha this problem wiII persisl. and Wh,te’s g2-bishop s eager to make its presence feit Others are 9 4d5 20 d6 ixd6 21 txcg *xc8 22 txd5 and 19 a6 20 a4 *e7 (or 20 h6 21 :€dl to threaien
KIA Black plays d5 and Àg4 125 d4-d5) 2! tg5 (21 edl”) 21 *fs 22 ixf6 xf6 23 €\xb6 ..xb6 24 xc8 xc8 25 *xb6, with a clear advanlage 10 White in bolh cases The lext makes Blacks situatian even worse because he is now reduced 10 shuffling atound while White calmly builds on bis lead 20 ‘0h51(D) White commands ihe light squares even without bis bishop The d pawn coniribules to the brnd by guarding ihe kcy squares c5 and eS, leaving Black almost lest for move thal does no’ open the floedgales 11e would like to defend the d5-square with 20 tf8 but this neglecis e5 and Oms invites 2 I e5, homing in on c6 20 1c7 1e7 the minor humiliation of seeing bis opponent help himself ‘othree useful, menacmg moves tree ef charge. Ton-e knows that White ‘sready 10 graduale 10 a more aggressive phase of Ibe game Side-siepping ec4-eS and anhicipaling the inevilable d4-d5, w brings hs qucen (o support die e5-square, connecting the rooks ‘nthe process 24 a5! While skilfully holds back the dpawn uni,! ils advance achieves the maximum effect Bis consistent follow-up to the prevlous moves guarantees ft,rther pregress on the queenside while he waits From this point on White shouid focus exclusively on the d-pawn If il s to embark on a victory march n s imperative that Black’s blockaders are eliminated Wh,tes extra space and bishop pair afford him the luxory of being able £0 conduct bis mission without the Inconvenience ofdealing w,th counteq,lay 27 ‘0g628 d6 rcd8 29 a6 e6 30 *fS!? ‘0xfS31 gxfs aces 32 eas 4Ne5 33 4\b7 34 flxe8 xc8 35 kd4 36 ixf6! 24 25 26 27 buS dS g4! (D) B bxa5 ‘if‘0fS B szruzrnt as 21 a4 22 aedl 23 1,4 Having suffered
126 KJA Black plays dS and kg4 White has enough pieces to do the job 111e ame ended 36 gxf6 37 ac3 38 g7 39 b3 40 41 4’ 42 xe4 ids .tfl h5 d5 b4 tfs 42 b5 Its 43 c5 ibS 14 43 h4 B13ck Plays a Premature ...ixf3 Botvinnik-SzDagyi Amsterdam 1966 I g3 d5 2 f3 c6 3 ig2 1g4 4 d3 ‘Zd75 h3 .xfl?! As usual ‘nsuch positions Ibis exchange s n°1 to be recommended, go die retreat 5 kh5 s best 6 .xfl eS? (D) w I don’t like to admit t, bifi for an improvement on Szilagyi’s antiposittonal, aibeil ambittous thmst we turo b a game played over thirty years laler by a machine The protagonisis are a certain Mr Kasparov and Deep flue (the machine1) This position arose n 111e Sth game of their match in New York, 997, and Black now opted for (ht solid 6 e6 Afier 7 e4 Deep Blue then produced a (heorelical novelly, 7 e5, which s an inleresting attempt (o counler Whites bishop pair The game conhnued 8 1g2 dxM 9 ixe4’ (9 dxe4 ..b4-t- is equal) 9 f6IO.g2ib4-i-IIed2h5!’ (D) w Thus far Kasparov bas had hale chance (o make any threatening gestures of his own because bis bishop bas been 100 bus>’ Now bis kingside s under fire 1-lowever, once lie manages 1° unravel, die bishop pair should be significanl There folIowed 12 *e2 c7 13 c3 1e7 4 d4 €3g6 15 h4 (White s making progress) 5 e5 16 ‘M3exd4 17 €xd4 O-O-O and now Deep Bine evaluates 18 0-0 ic5 19 .e3 he8 20 *‘f3 ees 2) îtfS* *d7 22 .th3 ixd4 23 cxd4 as better for Whde In general White should be patient affer die early capture on f3 As long as he keeps his position in order he can look forward w bis Iight-squared bishop operating unchallenged once the game opens up Noie also thai the text neglecs die squares dS and f5 7 €d2 egr6 8 e4 dxe4 Otherwise Wh,te ma>’ open up die position later with e4xd5 and c2-c4 z••rAi 4Â1 ILS tJL’%L4 14 I 114 IlS ±84Vi I 704 ES É**41 j iLS ï li /sP4&jd • :fl rj4
KM Blackplays dsand. Àg4 127 .c5 *e7 O-O?! 9 dxe4 ko o-O ij c3! NecessarY was Il a5, after whch White would be better placed, thanks to his bishop pair and white-square control Now White ‘sable to Increase his advantage by expanding on Ihe queenside —oflen a good idea n such positions 12 M ib6 13 a4! Claiming more space and mdirectly preparing d2-c4 by putting pawn on b5 before Black does 13 fd8 14 *c2 ac8 15 Se2!(D) B When Whites king’s bishop finds itselt on f] (usually as a resuit or .xf3 from Black) t s important to remember Ihat the stereotyped retreat te g2 ‘sflot necessarily the best course In Ibis case Ihe a2-g8 diagonal hoIds the mosI promise for the bishop The reader wilI notice from other games n this chapter that the h3-c8 diagonal s also occasionally used 15 eS? Allhough il does flot give away tilaterial, Black’s blunder allows bis Opponent u free hand positionally Chess masters oftcn remark that “goodpositions play themselves’, Botvinn,ks conduct of Ihe rest of the gaine should help 1° explamn Ibis max 1m 16 b5 €e8 17 ‘tk4d6 18 igs! Not surprisingly the hannontous development ofthe White pieces facilitates sueh a tactic Now 18 *xg5 19 exd6 followed by ic4 leaves Black ‘ndire straits, whilst afier 18 f6 White can avoid exchanging his knight and instead play €3e3-d5 Black s therefore obliged to enhance the power of White’s kings bishop with bis next move 18 [6 19 1e3 20 ixc4+ h8 21 a5 ic7 22 fdI 23 *a2! The main purpose of this move ‘sb prevent efs-e6 The queen wilI also take over the defence of the apawn now that the rooks are about 10 be exchanged 23 24 xdI 25 xdS 26 .6! 27 S’g2 (D) B d8 ixds b6
128 KiABlackplays.. d3 wèd.. ig4 The removal of Éhe rooks bas in Almosi toying with Black. no way helped Black, who is power- 32 *d6 less to defend against an invasion on 33 h4 *dl the white squares. Botvinnik’s next 34 *e8 plan s 10 reverse (ht present line-up Threatening to highlighl bis total on ihe a2-gS diagonal in order to tie command of the white squares with down he poentially troublesome h4-h5, tc4-17-g6+ and mate. knighi. The Faci thal lie can first im- Blacks next s tantamount to prove bis king’s position s indiça- resignation. (ive of Black’s passivfty. lndeed 34 f5 Black s effectively in a osi 35 exf5 ef5 posilion. 36 ..g8+ h8 27 ... *d7 37 i17+ I-O 28 e2 g6 Noie thai 5..ixf3 and 6,,.e5 29 ib3 e7 (raiher (han 6,. .e6) created consider30 *c4 h6 able white-squared weaknesses in 31 ‘t7h7 ihe Black camp. Botvinnik concen32 ..c4 trated On these until the end.
KIA Bkckplays... dS and... 1/3 129 6 Black plays ...d5 and ...ifS The ifs system is similar to ..1g4 in (bat Black avoids blocking n bis quoen’s bisbop and develops t on die kingside. Unlike the previous chapier, howevor, Black is flot so welI placed 10 push with .,,e5 because Ihere is no pressure againsl White’s king’s knight. The c6-dS-e6 pawn centre is therefore (lie bcst setup. and Ibis also acis to reduce Ihe range ofWhite’s king’s bishop. Once again Whute bas the Sel plan al his disposai 10 force through e2-e4. This bas Ihe advanlage of leaving a rook on fi. which often Works oui 10 be an important factor when White is ready w. build up a dangerous kingside allack by throwing forward bis f-pawn (there is even a form ot’ attack in which White plays gl-hl and afi-gi. followed by advancing he g-pawn). When White prefers a more positional game, thon ail-cl is okay. but with the queen’s bishop stili on cl Whîte should be careful if Black bas flot yet played .)b8-d7, as the open d-file may mean that multiple exchanges on e4 leave (ho rook having w voyer both e4 and dl, Another reason why Black should flot be too hasty wilh ...‘Zb8-d7 is that an e4-e5 push from White before Black bas caslled will chase the kîng’s knight to an unsuitable square. Since this variation s based around the development of Blacks queens bishop, it is advisable b create a retreat square on h7 in readiness for White’s e2-e4 with Lite move ...h7-h6. The h7-square is a good place for (ho bishop, forcing White to be carefiil about the c2- and d3-squares. White bas a basic choice of whal to do with his own queen’s bishop: spend urne on an early fianchebto, delay iL, or even do wibhout this fonn of developmen altogether. The former scheme invites Black ‘oseek counterplay on the queenside wilh ..,a7-a5, threabening the I tfl dS 2 g3 f6 3 igZ c6 4 O-O ifs (D) w
130 RIA Black plays dSancI .kp In die diagram position White seized upon his opponents careless moçe order with 9 e4, 41w point bemg 9 dxe4 10 dxe4 exe4 Il Àxg7 breaks up Black’s kingside Thus Black had (o move bis bishop. and White had saved himsetf (lie preparatory ‘IdI-cl Note that b8-d7 instead of a7-aS allows die same response Black should avoid also I 4M) dS 2 g3 c6 3 .&g2 ifS 4 0-0 Qi6 5 d3 Qbd7 6 Qh4’, as In the game Savon-Gligoric, Moscow 1989, when 6 1g6 7 e4 dxe4 8 42xg6 hxg6 9 dxe4 eS 10 4d2ic5 Il a40-0 I2b3 1e7 13 ie3 favoured White But aller 5 e6 Black s flot worned about his bishop being I,arassed, as 6 h49I ig4 7 h3 IbS 8 g4 4fd7’ makes use ofthe d8-h4 diagonal In general, White has a good game agaanst this variation because Blacks oslensibly powerftl qucens bishop gets ocked om of die action, and White stems £0 find t too easy to develop a dangerous initiative on die krngside Wbite Fianchettoes Qocenside Polugayevsky-Addison Palma Interzoncsl 1970 I F)f3 ilS 2 g3 c6 3 1g2 ilS 4 d3 h6 5 4)b42 €3f6 6 0-0 c6 7 b3 1e7 S ib2 0-09 ‘PcI!An alternative but Iess aceurale way of achievrng the e2-e4 push s by playing 9 e I However the idea of ‘Id1-I,e2-e4 and ‘IeI-e2(or e2-e3, ‘IdI -e2 and e3-e4) leaves die rook more useft,lly placed on the f-file, as White wiIl eventually push his f-pawn Il is also important that White keep the cl-square clear 50 that H will be possible if necessaly 10 play 4M3-eI, both unleashrng die f-pawn and defending the c-pawn 9 kh7 10 e4 (D) 10 aS As usual Black must begin active operahons on the qucenside in order to distract White’s attention fr0111 the other flank W.th his Ias move Black threatens 10 cause White problems by conhinuing wilh a4-a3 or by a welI-timed exchaflge on b3 PolugayevskyPlaninc, Skopje 1971. followed another pah when Black devided to open the dannoying aS-a4 It is worlh noting here a surprisrngly common mistake which occuned in Ledger-Levut, London 1990 (D) Z4**•2 SÀ• jAS t w t .*riAr&t B
KM Blackplays d5wid 1j3 Di file with 10 dxe4 Ibis worked to WIiIte’s advantage II dxe4 Ca6 VukIcMlleS, Novi Sad 1975, inued Il Cbd7 12 *e2 *c7 H eS d5 14 e4 afds, when 15 a3 followcd by fdI would have favoured Wh.te) 12 *e2 CeS 13 CeS c? 14 bI LdS 15 f4 Ce8 16 adl Cd6 17 S’e3’ Ca6 (17 €d7 lB ed3 and 17 Cc8 18 *c3 are both bad for Black) 18 a3 .tf6’ (Whne would aise be better afier 18 Cb519Mc520c4Cd421b5 CbS) 19g4’ and Black is In danger ofbeing ovenrun II a4 This ‘susually the best reaction 10 a7-a5, as Il a3 mviles a future aS-a4 which could (un. oui weII (or Black li a6 Again Black aims 1° pressure lus opponenl’s queenside with Ca6-b4 Korchnoi-Reshevsky. Amsterdam (maich) 1968, saw instead Il Cbd7 12te2 tbé 13 eS CeS 14 ih3’ with a slight advanlage (o WhiIe After 14 Qc7 5 hl aae8 16 €3h4 f6 17 exf6 axfô I 8 ixt xf6 Black had succeedcd n eliminating White’s powerful e-pawn, bul 19 f4 tcs 20 Cdn stili leif Whne befler thanks to his renewed control of the es-square Bringing the other knigh te d7 with li QMd7 leads to VukicBuIjovc,c, below 12 S’e2 A similar posilion wottld arise after 12 eS Cd7 13 te2 Cb4 14 Ccl In flic game VladimirovKharitonov, USSR 1977, White developed a kingside attack after 14 *b6I5hI àa616f4 OE8 I? an c5 18g4 12 €3b4 12 Cç791 was seen in DannevigGretarsson Qausdal 1994 I dont really see the poiffi of putting Ihe knight here, and indeed in die game Black failed (o make an impact after 13 Ces .b4 14 Ldl te? 15 ‘hlLd8 when both players ‘wasted’a move —16 t13b1 Ca6 I? f4 Now Black sougbt te avoid being on Ihe wrong side of a kingside auack by exchanging some heavy pieces 17 dxe4 18 dxe4 xdl 19 xdI d8 20 xd8* *xd8 (D) w 1-lowever, hopes of a draw were soon dashed 21 d3 ie7 22 Cd2 ‘Çd723 €3c4 if6’ (23 ‘tab4gives the knight somethmg le do al Iast, after which Black s cramped —the Iight-squared hishop s loeked out but reasonably solid) 24 ‘W’d2’.kxb2 25 t22idxb2 Suddenly Black ‘saboul ‘opart with a valuable pawTi 25 b6 (25 b4 26 Cxa5) 26 Cxb6 txb6 27 *xd7 .kgô 28 Cc4 *f2 29 *d2 ‘Éxd230 Çxd2 CM 3 I Cc4 Cxc2 32 tZ3xa5 and White wenl on le convert the pawn 13 Ccl 4d7 In Quinleros-Spiridonov, C,enfucgos 1972, Black unwisely underestimated Wh,te’s kingside atlacking chances The game went I 3 *b671 14 ±‘hlfd8 15 e5’ Cd7 16 f4 *a6 I? g4’ e8 18 4f2 .tfs 19 *g3 cS 20 f5, and Black was in /%À .Â&t 41fl1s4 1k
132 KM Black plays d5 and ifS trouble Also possible s 13 dxe4, aitbough this gives Whfle use of c4 for his queen’s knight Add,son’s inove ‘sdesigned ‘olure the white e-pawn forward whence t wiIl be challenged with f7-f6 14 f4 15 eS 16 g4 WiIh his queenside under no 1m- mediate pressure White may now go on the offensive 16 Ze8 17 hI Tucking hie kmg safely in Ihe corner ‘saiways a good idea in positions of this nature 17 f6?(D) Perhaps Ibis is a natural reaction when faced with o potenhial pawn slorm. allhough counler-aflacking on the queenside was called for Gligoric has recommended 7 bS, whple Kolov refened Il eS followed by c7 (to defend die bpawn), d5-d4 and b4-d5 In both cases White bas the better practical chances since he ‘sattacking the king An important feahure of ilie KIA which the reader should bear in mmd s that positions arise tiequenlly whmch have Whmte attacking on die kmngside and Black on the qucenside Not surprisingly, therefore, this makes White’s task easmer as mnaccurate defence on Black’s part wilI have more serlous consequences Retuming to the diagram position we sec that play revolves —as ‘soften the case —around the e5-square Whmte’s firm grip accentuales bis advantage 18 dfl fieS 19 tfl5 theS 20 kxes es 21 d1 A prophylactic measure designed to give Black second Ihoughts about pushing wilh c5-c4 (whicb could have been the answer to 21 4M3) to open up (Fie queen’s bmshop’s h7-bl diagonal 21 ic6 22 4n 23 xe5 li s generally indicative that lhmngs have gone well (or Whmte when Fie bas a host of pieces ready w occupy the e5-square 23 *c7 24 *eJ! Preparing to continue bis kingsmde attack with 25 g5 24 id6 25 de1 f8 26 h4! h8 27 *g3 ra6 Indireclly defending die e-pawn 28 gS rb6 29 ih3! *e7? Exchangrng wmth 29 .xe5 30 xe5 Sf7 wouid have al Ieast relmeved some ot die pressure whmch White has bumit up Now Pologayevsky cleverly juins his nihiaF ive and positional advantage into a Won game 30 31 32 gxh6 tîg6+ axe6! (D) kf6 .ae7 w gxh6
KM Black plays dSaucI ifS 133 The point White wins a pawn and aclivates bis rook (also pinning ihe ..d6) before reca turing on g6 Now 32 .xf4’ 33 xe7 ixg3 34 xfS s maie 8° Black complicates lhings by ibrowing another piece mb ihe fray 32 xF4 33 éxf4! ae4+ The only l’y as bobh 33 J.xf4 34 axe7 and 33 *xeô 34 *xh6+ are final 34 :4 35 xh6+ Not 35 g8 36 .e6+ 36 9r6+ 37 d8+ 38 Éxb6 39 xb7+ 40 f6+ 41 *h7 mate. It s evident that Black must be careful in this variation White’s over-protection ot eS gave him pOsilional advantage which made flic execution of an attack quute easy Vukic-Biiljovcic Non Sud f97Ç I €fl d5 2 g3 c6 3 ig2 €f6 4 b3 Playing an early 62-b3 bas the advaniage of kecping Black guessang as 10 what Whitc will do wuth the centre pawns .kb2 o-0 d3 @bd2 eI 10 e4 il a4 Despite a diffèrent move order we have the same position al Ibis point as in the previous game Here Black decides to hold back the development of bis queen’s knight rather than play ebs-a6-b4 lnstead lie untends to advance bis c-pawn afier Whute has played e4-e5 II ... €ffd7 Il 59 ‘spremature because White still bas Ihe possibilily of e4xd5 Indeed in ihe game Vukic-Cbekhov, Banja Luka 1976, Black followed up II cS 12 e5 with another mistake 12 fd7’ (12 ebd7 13 f4 s better for White) 13 xd7 *xd7 14 exd5 exd5 15 ..xd5i *xd5 16 *xe7 tc6 17 *h4. and White had safely won a pawn 12 *e2 Vacating e I for the kniglit 12 ... .af6 Black continues wuth bis plan, whicb White s happy to go along with 13 eS! Whiie should preserve bis queen’s bishop for future attacking purposes unless an exchange helps him I) ... ie7 14 eci A thematic and sound retreat The more active looking 14 4Nd4 helps Black accelerate bis queenside play 14 ib6 15 f4 ç5i l6€4l3c4+ B 4 S 6 7 8 9 f5 e6 e7 h6 o-o h7 aS dxe4 fl’h7 *g7 h7 ‘g3h5 14 c5
134 KM Black plays d5 and 1)3 Black prepares to bring bis knight £0 c6 1° bette, obseive the centre and put the d4-square under more pressure This ‘sa good plan because White had to w,thdraw support of d4 n order to free bis f-pawn 15 f4 c6 16 h1 êc7(D) w 17 c4?! Just as Black musl pay great attention 1° matters on the kingside, White should do likewise on the other Ilank Understandably White s r,ght to seriously consider bis opponents possibilities on the queenside and flot ignore them, but bis reaction here ‘sflot al ail necessary lt ‘sbetter to put one s faith in the solidity of Ihe queenside and con‘mue w,th the kingside buiid-up with I 7 df3 and g3-g4 Now Black con use the d-file w hu Ihe d-pawn wh,ch is no longer defended by 111e c-pawn 17 dxc4 18 bxc4 Not 18 dxc4 d4’ when Wh,te stands worse 18 adS 19 ke4 White eliminates the long-range queen’s bishop and consequentiy reduces the pressure on bis d-pawn 19 te4 2Œ exe4 Another resuit of this exchange s White’s influentiai knight outpost on e4, as weil as removing a usefiil kingside defender 20 edh8? Black ehooses a faulty plan which he wili flot gel the time to reMise Afler €d4 he hopes to place bis remaming knight on c6 However, 20 b6 wouid bave lcd to a balaneed game afier 2! f3 b4 followed by *c7-c6, threatening the a4-pawn and occupyrng Wh,te’s weakened hI-a8 diagonal 21 g4! White sels his pawn-roiler in motion 21 ed4 22 lxd4! The white knights are the superior pieces in this position, and Black will be loo busy trying to hold his kingside together to profit from bis grip on the dark squares 22 cxd4 23 gS! Wh,te’s attack s beginning to look veiy dangerous 23 hxg5 24 *h5! (D) B A look al the diagram position reveals a sony lack of pieces wh,ch can corne to the aid offllack’s king Jnin*sas AIIUI P4A•s g*r4,ifl FiLÉ tAS ISA.. k.6 A•A*fl s F4 fi
KM Blackplays diaid Sj 135 0f course 24 gxf4” now would be suicidai as White is ready to brang a rook to che g-file 25 €f6t lxf6 (25 gxfô 26 g1 mate) 26 exf6 td7 27 fxg7 txg7 28 gl+ f6 29 *g5 mate for does 24 f6’ offer a chance of survival as 25 exf6 kxfô 26 fxg5 will soon Iead to While playing gS-g6 d7 ‘f3fe8 f6’ s met by 26 fxg5’ exe5 27 g6 26 exg5 kxgs 27 QhgS Black lias succecded ‘ndefending as well as possible, but White bas two rooks ‘nreserve which guarantee victoiy 28 8! €g6 29 gI 30 xfl! *xf7 SI axgé I-0 32 f5 s coming, ami flic black king cannot mn away with 31 e7 because of 32 *g5+ After Black failed to capitalise on 11w imprecise 17 c4’ he was subjected b a classic kingside attack typical ot this variation White plays an early e4 In the following games Whute dispenses with a qucenside fianchetbo and works for quicker action in the centre This may flot be die type of line for those players who like b dcvelop their pieces, but the time saved could prove usefiul (o White Vaga nian -Sveshnikov Sochi 1980 I fl d5 2 g3 ‘f63 .g2 c6 4 O-Of55d36bd2 An unusual development of die queen’s bishop was seen in PoweilPeters, USA 1976 White tned die provocative and onginal 6 jf4) and Black gamely countered by preparing g7-gS The game conhnued 6 h6 7 ebd2 4bd7 8 Sel gY’ 9 e4’ with a compl.cated battie which tumed oui in Wjute’s favour afler 9 dxe49 (better is 9 .&g6 10 1e3 •g7, when ‘ts Black who bas a strong bishop on die aJ-b8 diagonal IOdxe4 1g4(IO 1g6 Il 1e3 Zhe4 12 €xe4 txe4 13 d4’orlI ixe4l2t8xe4 xe4 13 lxa7 Qxg3 14 S.d4) Il leS 6 1e7 7 Sel(D) 7 h6 8 e4 1h7 Black exchanged on e4 in Reshevsky-Smyslov, USSR vs Rest of the World 1970 There followed (8 dxe4) 9 dxe4 ih7 ID 5e2 bd7 II eS (it is too late to change plans and go for a queenside fianchetto as Black can aim at bite epawn II b3” 4c5 12 1b2 lxe4 13 .xf6 .txt) 14 ixe7 .xe2 15 .&xd8 xd8, so 12 eS is forced, but 12 d5 favours Black) II d5 12 e4 ecs 13 €3xcS ixc5 14 d2’ *c7 (flot 14 .txc2 15 *c4’) (5 a3 O-O Now Whde should have played 16 th I’ followed by 12-f4, when Black ‘sunder pressure 24 25 25 B 141W&ÇJS *À 1AAL d/s%s4 TA V4 FfJÀ•fl1, V4
/36 KIA Black plays dS w,d ifS 9 Çe5!? White clears the way for the charge of ibe f-pawn This active straiegy s more suitable here because White is aiMe 40 use die time g would have laken to play b2-b3 and icl-b2 10 ihrow bis kingside pawns forward In Frog-Sveshnikov, Elisia 1995, WIute soried out his queen and rook first There followed 9 te2 0-0 10 eI e8 and only now did Mr Frog jump loto e5, but he had in niind a new, provocative approach involving neither a kingside pawn offensive for a queenside fianchetto II tèe5 12bd7 12 txd7 txd7 I3’M3if8 14if4”(Dj B Ai first glance ibis may seem like a somewhat foolish ploy White’s kingstde pawns are going nowhere and bis bishop s about to be forced back Mot Ihe most positive start to the middlegame However. there s a Iong-tenn, positional foundation upon which Ibis slralegy ‘sbased 14 e5 15 icl’ (alter Blacks nexi ihe bishop could be vuinerable on he d-file) 5 €c5 16 Ch4 And here we see Ihe point, alihough we might need 10 look closely Control ot the f5-square ‘sflot exactly a match-winner, but without any similar weaknesses in bis camp (note the three queenside which are yel te move) White can daim some kind of advantage Moreover, even though Blacks bishop is shul out of the game on h7, exchanging ‘ttemoves bis only influence over f5, afier which the light squares in front of the king grow weaker 16 td7 17 10 AnoIlier piece is heading forf5 Nowl7 f5 I8exf5ixfS 19 1h5 e7 20 xf5 *xf5 21 1g4 s unclear lnstead Black played 17 ad8 lSig4’&c7 19 ifS (19 ef5’) 19 gô. which s no! as silly asil looks (19 kxfs 20 tàxf5 ‘salitde belter for White), and n faci 2Oih3eeô2l ie3cs’(21 dxe4 22 dxe4 ed4 23 ixd4 exd4 24 ad I with an edge to White) 22 .kxe6 xe6 23 c4 dxe4 24 dxe4 opened the d-file for ihe exehange of major pieces and a level ending For another, less subtle plan, see Guiman-I_ejnov, below Vaganian hopes ihat leaving Ihe queen on cl will prove useful since the subsequent advance of the f- and g-pawns will provide an eniiy le the kingside by opening the el-h4 diagonal 9 #bd7 10 xd7 xd7 Not 10 *xd7’ Il e5 when Blacks knighi lacks a good square Il f4 O-O 12 hI aS Black reacts with an assault of bis own 13 g4 a4?! consistent bol flot correct Belter was 13 dxe4 14 dxe4 ‘c5,limaing Whiie 10 a slight edge 14 (5 15 bS 16 b1 17 gxfs 18 exd5 19 *g3 20 4ti a3 e8 ef 5 tas cd5 11,4 ‘h8(D)
KIA Biackplays d5and 1)3 137 White threatened 2 I .kxh6 Also insufficient s 20 ixf5 21 .kxh6 S.g6 22 €h4’, e g 22 gxh6 23 exgô fxgô 24 *xgôt h8 25 an A cursory glance al (lie diagram position suggests thal Black’s dark square conirol gives him a comfortable game A doser inspection, however, tous anoiher story White’s krngside pawn charge has accomplished more than Black’s efforts on die queenside, and Vaganian now endeavours to strip away his opponent’s defences 11 f6! 22 .kxh6! \h5 Accepung the sacrifice does flot help 22 gxliô 23 Qk5 e7 (or 23 axes 24 *xe5 ic3 25 d4) 24 axtô ag8 25 *h4’ axe5 26 axh6 ag7 27 xh7+ Zxh7 28 à’fô+ 23 4g4 aa6 24 tg5! igé Not 24 gxh6” 25 xf7 mate, or 24 rxh6” 25 xf71- ‘g826 xh6# 25 tèxn+ ixf7 26 ixg7+! White sacrifices a piece to break nt0 bis opponenl’s kingside 26 xg7 27 L17 IfS 28 ablI *c5 29 b4 *d6 Nol 29 ‘txl430 axf8+’ SxtE 31 axfs+ axfs 32 4h31-’ ‘g833 ixds+ 30 31 32 33 The KIA bishop OŒfles 1mo play, threatening Iwo deadly checks 33 h3 34 1e4+ 35 agi 1-O Black cannot defend against the threat of 36 ag6+ withoul sufi’ering a decisive loss ofmalerial Gutn.an-Lejnov lsrael 1980 Iï3d52g3Qf63ig2if54 O-O c6 Also possible is 4 e6 5 d3 h6 6 ‘bd2.te7 7 tel 0-0 8 e4 1h7 9 *e2 c5i9, when Black bas dispensed with c7-c6 in readiness for a quick queenside assault Plachetka-Yusupov. Lucerne Olympiad 1982, conh’nued O b3i t1jc6 li kb2 c4i 12 bxc4 (12 exds cxd3 and 12 dxe4 dxe4 13 Q3e5 ed4 14 *dI e3’ are both very good for Black) 12 dxe4 13 dxe4 ‘*‘c7with comfortable game for Black However, 10 e5 s more likely (o highuighl the deflciency of Ihe c7-c5 idea (which does go against he solid nature of die IfS Irnes) Afler 10 ees tEc6 Il xc6 leaves Black with potenlially weak doubled pawns and 10 4bd7 II 1xd7 txd7 12 eS 4e8 13 Qf3 4c7 14 114 gives White the advanlage thanks to his over-protection of the e5-pawn and good prospects of kingside altack 5 d3 h6 6 €bd2 €6 w xg7! th5+ Dx e 8+ 1xd5 ixg7 flh6 h7
138 (CiA Black plays dianti 40 If While intends to put bis queen on e2 then Ibis method of forcing ihrough e2-e4 ‘sfine 0f course Ihe interesling try which was successful for While in the previous game is equallly possible 7 .e7 8 *e2 0-0 9 e4 .h7 10 ‘bI!?Introducing a seeniingly blunt but effective attacking plan of playing :gl and pushing Ihe g-pawn 10 tbd7 Too passive A vigorous queenside counter-attack s called for such as 10 a5’ II eS fd7 12g1 c5’ 13 fl tc7 14 g4 c6 15 if4 t?1d4’ 16 xd4 cxd4 with enough pressure ‘oal Ieast distraci White from bis kingside mission II eS €e8 12 gI c7 Supporting Ihe e-pawn in preparalion for a challenge against WhiIes advanced epawn with (716 White anticipates tins thrust 13 g4! 14 exf6 15 eti 16 gS! (D) A Iemporaiy pawn sacrifice which enables Wbite b furiher open the g-file for his rook 16 hxgs 17 h3 ifS 18 gS ixgs 19 tgs *17 20 ixfs tifS Black underestimates the danger he faces on he g-file Recapturing wilh Ihe pawn ‘san improvement, and afier 20 ext3’ 21 eg3 aeS, Whiles best ‘s‘otah a slight endgame advanlage with 22 *h5 ee6 23*xf7+ xf724ae1 Now While con keep the position sufficienlly closed to maintain dangnous Ibreats againsl tlw black king. withou (ht wony ofhis opponeni having counterplay down 11w e-file 21 f4 d4 22 €43 23 g2 :17 24 ‘e4flII s natural Ihat Wh,le would like *0 occupy the newly available M-square with bis lœight. although 24 g1 causes Black more immediate problems 24 eS 25 tS! xfS The pawn must be removed as the lhreat off5-f6 is difficull to prevenl 26 .h6 7 eS(D) B B asa* n I •PAÂI • AII AflA*flit f6 .txf6 te?
KM Biackplays d5and kf3 139 27 ag1 e8! flic mosi accurate defensive resource The alternative 27 e6 tesuits in an even belter game for Wh,Ie after 28 g6’ Qidf8 29 6g4 28 gS! Intending to tnple on Ihe g-file with ûe2-g2 28 df6 If Black escapes the pin on the g- file with 28 fE White makes another 29 xg7’ xg7 30 *g2 *g8 31 ixg7t Qixg7 32 *h3 e8 33 *g4 While s clearly mnch better, but Black is surviving 29 *g2 Qxe4 30 dxe4 *d7 31 *g3! We wiII soon see why this clever move s preferable 10 3 I xe5 c7 32 gs Qe6 33 g6 e8 with good drawing chances for Black 31 te7 32 tb3 (D) B Gutman uses his queen to ftiII etfeu Thanks to Ibis second pin the threai is 33 xg7+’ Exg7 34 xg7+ fg 35 Zxf7 32 There ‘sno escape die other way 32 h8 33 .xg7’ xg7 34 th3-}- ‘g835 h5’ threatening 36 h8+ 33 h5! g8 Accepting (lie poisonous bishop With 33 gxh6 allows 34 Zxh6 *d7 35 tb4+ (35 e7 36 h8+ f7 37 h7+ f8 38 fl+ andxe7) 34 ixg7l White s ready 10 make the final breakthroogh 34 xg7 35 *h3 fls Or 35 flf4 36 h8+ ‘fl37 *h7’ 36 h8+ 37 xg7+l ‘xg738 Éh7+ f6 39 î’fS+ I-O 39 g74Oah7*g84I *g6+ White announced bis intentions of attacking down the g-file as early as bis tenth move Instead of mmcdialely insligating a Ihematic queenside counter Black rallier unwisely elcced b Iry and match his opponent on the kingside In Ihe following game Black delays castling in order to speed up the generation of a queenside attack Smyslov-Miles Engbsnd 1975 1 tÎfl f6 2 g3 d5 3 g2 c6 4 0-O .f5 S d3 h6 6 ebd2 e6 7 tel .e7 8 e4 .h7 9 e2 tc7!? An interesting f flot compietely Sound continuation Black delays castling and looks b Ihe queensidc for aclivuy In anticipation of Smyslov closing Ihe centre with e4-e5 Keene-Zuidema, England 972, saw Black adopt a pohcy of castiing kingside and then pushing bis t and g-pawns forward’ That game went 9 0-0 10 eS 4Md7 Il el eS 12 4ifl ‘2c613 h4 ac8 14 if4 e8 15 elh2 f5” (15 ..f8’ s sensible) 16 c4” (Keene gives 16 h5 as an improvement. although il s difficult to sec that Blacks next wiIl be more oseful than wealcening) la iÀ/ na Ii FA t U
140 KIA Black pksys d5and 1/3 16 gS I? 1e3 d4 18 Ici g4 19 d2 tdxe5 (19 €cxe5 20 b3’ threatens both ixb7 and Ixh6) 20 ixc6 ‘7)xe621 *xe6-1- g7 22 b3 and White stands slightly better 10 efd7 il cS 12 eS flel c4 (D) Whue must take care n°1 w succumb to a queenside pawn avalanche, especially wilh Black’s queens bishop silting on the bi-h? diagonal It s truc Ihat the d-pawn s 00W a weakness, but if Black manages 10 gel c5-c4 n Ihc pawn wiIl be weaker stili afler c4xd3, and d3xc4 from While opens Ihe diagonal stiil furiher and makes c2 a targel Establishing a pawn on c4 helps form a good blockade which s designed to keep Black albeil temporarily al bay while While builds up an atlack on die kingside 12 ... d4 (3 hf1 tc6 14 1d2 Preventin ec6-b4 14 b8 1$ g4 55 Another idea ‘s15 a6 to moet c4xb5 with a6xb5, afler which Black will piay for cS-c4 However, Black apprectates the importance of a quick counter to White’s kingside build-up 16 cxb5 xbS 17 b) aS 18 eg3 O-O Black needs both rooks (o continue w,th bis queenside attack, and his king s no safer in the centre than t 15 on g8 19 gS! hxgs 20 .ixg5 1b8 20 ixg5 21 xg5 t2kxe5 22 ‘txh7xh7 23 *e4+ h8 (23 eg6 24 hêc6!) 24 f4 s good for White 2k lxe7 4he7 22 gacl! The threal of àxd4 forces the black quecu *0 vacate c7 22 ... Wd8 23 egs 1g6 24 M a4 Aclive play fron, bolh sides Nevertheless White’s assortment of pieces on 11m kingside make bis aitack considerabiy casier to concluel 25 bxa4 b2 26 f3 xa2 27 11,3 a3 28 hS! axd3 29 *g2! Fron, here the qucen can oversee evenls without obsirucling the minor pieces 29 bb3(D) B w
KIA Black plays d5and kfl 14! 29 xg3 does not alleviate flIackS problems 30 txg3 txh5 31 xe6’ fxe6 32 ixe6t h7 33 ‘h3fnstead Black commues down the path of counter-attack, hoping for 30 hxg6 Qxg6 with dangerous compensation for the sacrificed G.Hernandez-R.Espinoza Me’ucan (‘h (play-oJJ) 1994 J I3 dS 2 g3 4f6 3 .g2 c6 4 O-O .15 5 d3 €66 4fd2!? (D) ** / pieCe 30 xc6! ncompi0miSiflg and best, resuit- ing in simplifications wInch are ver>’ favourable for White 30 fxe6 31 ixe6+ 32 .kxf7+ xf7 33 €6+ g8 34 exd7 Sd7 35 e4 Threatening 36 xc5 and 36 /jj/j4 •À*À Pj À Vj, À t F4 7 s FjjFj4 B • • • S f4Af4 fl fl: Sen occasionally since Ihe f6t mid-1990s, tbis relalively new idea 35 deserves 10 be played more often 36 xc5! As one of 11w main strategies in Ibis Not falling for die trap by 36 variation involves a certain loss of xc5’ 3’ lime (e g *dI -e I, e2-e4, *el -e2) 36 xg2+ 37 xg2 b7 38 g5! c3 few slrong players have lried drop- ping the knight back 10 d2 This flot only brings hvo new pieces in con- Black cannot defend bis d-pawn, tact wilh e4, but also frees the fkrnght and back rank siniultane- pawn, thus introducing Ihe prospect ously (White threarened 39 c8-1-i xc8 40 e8 male) of an early kingside offensive The drawback is Ihe subsequent slow de- 39 ads! c8 velopmenl or the queenside caused 0f course n°1 39 xd5’ 40 e8 mate by the obstruction of the queen’s bishop Nevertheless, the plan s 40 xd4 sound and quite easy to play, and And While eventually converted bis material advantage mb the full lesser-known lines can be effective against inflexible systems poini l_O 6 eS!? Smyslovs bandling of the attack, Black thinks for himself. After under pressure from Miles’s ener- White’s deliberate departure from getic retaliation. ‘sa good example of how one can generate threats on the kmngside —even when facing an adversary who recognises that quiet play s no answer 10 White’s build-up well known theoretical channels Black wants to have some say in Ihe make-up of what follows The knight retreat bas lefi the eS-square unguarded, giving Black an oppor Iunity b make his contribution
142 KlABlackpksys d5and 1)3 inimediately Now the bishop is free to choose a p08t on ils original diagonal Most players are likely w reaci in a more stereotyped fashion In Badea-Cozianu. Romanian Ch 1997, Black was not interested In venturing from bis pre-determined route White came up with a novel knighi manoeuvre to complement he advance of lus kingside pawns 6 h67e4ih78*e2e79c3 €a6 10 f4 0-O II >hI bS I2Vd1” 13 Qe3 (D) The time thal White saved wilh bis queen bas been spent on sending ihe knight 10 e3, supportmg 6 and jusI one step away from g4 Meanwhile the other knighl boislers the slrongpoint on e4 This s an mportant facior The recomn,ended recipe when faced w,th an atlack on the wing (par(icularly the kingsde) s a swift counter in the centre, and in Éhe diagram position White s weB prepared b meet such a challenge 13 S’h8 14 f5 d4 l5”g4’xg4 16 xg4 and White was making progress on the kingside The thematic 6 eS I7€Oexf5 lsexf5eds 19 e5 c8 20 .d2 s comfortable for White, 8° Black settled for 16 *d7 when Badea pressed forward 17 f6” .xf6 18 xf6 gxf6 19 *h4 andnow 19 ee820*xh6g821 ‘M3d8 22 eS ft’e7 23 if4 g6 24 i’h4 ‘sunclear White clearly bas compensation for the exchange 7 e4 dxe4 H dxe4 Unless White is content to exchange a pair of minor pieces he must now either nudge bis queen to cl or open the gl-a7 diagonal for fllack’s other bishop As the whole point of 6 fd2 15 0 push the fpawn White selecis the second option 9 n Consistent 1-Iowever, 9 Sel borrows a theme from the .ig4 une, but here the early central exchange means that White can use the c4-square for bis knight Black ‘snot ready for 9 b5” in view of 10 a4, 50 afier 9 1e7 10 ec4 €bd7 White can consider bringing the knighl 10 e3 to bit the b,shop and eye f5 or, alternatively, posl Ihe qucen on c3 to pressure the eS-pawn and concentrale on the qucenside Remeniber Ihat the Itpawn s shil ready for launch al any lime ie6 àel jcS+ hI (D) Pespite the symmeirical nature oC tue pawn Iayout the posit,on is not B 9 ‘oli B 14 Z LAS PAAPAfl g
KIA Blackplays diastl S.j3 143 clear White ‘salready threatening ‘karsi ouI wilh f3-f4 and ea2-b3”3, exploiting Black’s classical developmeflt by harassing the bishOps Consequently Black deavOUn to strike the first blow Il h5!? Maybe a littIe ‘00direct for most people this aggressive response makes sense from a positional and psychological poini of vlew White was hoping (bat his king would spend much of Ihe game tucked safely away n (lie corner, watching while Blacks cornes face 1° face with bis own marching pawns Afler thenatural Il O-O I21b3ib6 13 tZld2 followed by €d2-c4 White has an edge on both sides of die board thanks 10 the (breat of f3-f4 12 h3 M 13 g4 bd7 14 4b3 Sb6 15 €c3?! Thinking only of bis f-pawn. Whi(e ‘s‘naulomatic mode Beuer s 15 bd2’ followed by 16 k4. keeprng an eye on e5 ‘nreadiness for f3-f4 and introducing the possib.ltty of’k4-e3-f5 15 *e7 Prepanng for Ihe inevibble f344, Black simply focuses his forces on the centre The first square which cornes to mmd ‘sthe one directly in front of the soon te be isolated e-pawn 16 f4 exf4 17 lxf4 txb3 18 axb3 19 txe5! Forced because Black was threa(enrng te take absolute control of the e5-square with f6-d7 19 *xc5 20 f5 *e7 21 €5 d7 with an unclear position With littie more patience and flexibility Whute could have made something from his opening experiment li certainly throws Black off balance and forces him 10 think for himself, and the prospect of facing an early pawn advance can be uncomfortable for Black
144 lOng s Indian Defence Reversed 7 King’s Indian Defence Reversed When Black pushes with both c7c5 and d7-d5 the adversanes reverse roles and White s playing King’s Indian Defence with an extra tempo 0f course, White should be bappy to go along wilh this, especially as the King’s Indian ‘ssuch a reputable defence Nevertheless, Black oflen volunteers b allow Wbite this Iuxury. and Ihe mogi popular cho,ce s b fianchetto the k,ng’s bishop, as ‘nflic firsi three gaines The other three see Black adopting versions of the Classical Variation Fianchetto System lIickI-Lev Bern ZonaI 1990 I g3 cS 2 1g2 4c6 3 e4 g6 4 43 Àg75ef3€f66O-OO-O7c3d5 (D) WiLh this move Black adopis 11w popular fiancheito system which ‘sused by Wh,te againsl the King’s lnd,an Defence Not surpr,singly the extra lempo helps White here, but Blacks setup ‘sIogical and gives reasonable game The more conservative 7 d6 would transpose ‘ohie Sicilian Defence S €bd2 es I Çf3 c5 2 g3 dS 3 .g2 3c6 4 O-O (D) *À SÀÀA U8U ø ‘174 SiS II B w z•s.• X.. kArl4 SAlA lia. 4ÂI lai.. S Aa’4ifl
lOng s Imizan Defence Reversed 145 Alternatives a) PIachetkaYI Czechoslovaha 1974 saw an aflempt 10 cmmp Wh,Ie with S d4 Afler 9 cxd4 cxd4 10 a4 eS Il c4 White siood better and on Il ees w used the extra tempO 1° undertake a qucenside offensive with 12 b4’ Such push can be excellent for Wh,te, and die reader should be on the lookout for ibis acti’e possibiliiy n related positions. particularly when Black has ambitiously advanced his central pawils b) S .g4” is no! a good plan for Black. either Luiikov-Bagirov, AIma-Ata 1969 contrnued 9 exd5’ exds 10h) id7 II €1b3 b6 12 d4, when White’s firm control of Ihe centre cil hirn inuch beller 9 e1 Expansion on Ihe queenside s anoiher plan available to White a) Pe!rosian-Teschner, Stockholm Inlerzonal 1962, conlinucd 9 a3, aiming le advance Ihe b-pawn 0f course Black can prevent b2-b4 with 9 a5, but While Ihen happily gives back a tempo witb 10 a4, leaving Blacks qucenside weak (particularly the squares b5 and b6) Consequenily the game went (after 9a3)9 h6 l0b4cxb4 II axb4b5 12 ia3 e8 13 ‘IcZtg4 14 ‘ib3,when White had a slighi pull on the qucenside b) Popovic-Kirov Wroclaw 1979, continued instead 9 a4 h6 10 aS? dxe4 (10 xa5’ Il 4xe5) Il dxe4 ie6 12*e2 *c7 I) a6’ b6, when White eventually made use of b? by playing c4-d6-b7 9 h6 Black often makes this precautuonary move in order to deny bis Opponent ihe use of the gS-square, as a future S.cl-g5 or f3-g5 could undermine Blacks control of d5 The space-gainlng 9 d4 transposes 10 the game Yap-Bany, Hungary 1986 White immediately sought an mitiative on the qucenside with ID cxd4 cxd4 II c4 e8 12 b3 d6 l3kg5if6 l4lxf6*xf6 15 xd6 %‘xd6 16 aecl Black bas problems completing bis development, and the passive 16 b8 was answered by Ihe thematic 17 *dsi *f6 18 M’, when 18 xM 19 *xe5 lefi Black with a weak dpawn and a passive game 10 a4 An almost automatic reaction ‘nmany variations White intends to use c4 as a useful posi for his queen’s knight, so il s necessaTy tO put a stop 1° a harassing b7-b5 froin Black 10 e8 Bringing more suppori to his epawn, which s about to corne under pressure from White’s pieces aûer Ihe following central exchange II exdS €xd5 12 ‘c4(D)8 Allhough Black enjoys a space advantage bis chances of finding constructive plan are somewhat lim ’IedOne policy ‘sto calmly wait and see how White w,ll continue, making sure not b make any 1V41*ZPA*W4 tAPI4 Ski •a ‘41 s n•n
/46 King s Indwn Defence Reve,nd stnictural weaknesses However, While’s game is a utile casier to play lie has a definite, albeit minuscule pull on both sides of the board, and bis krng’s bishop —unlike Black’s —resides on an open diagonal 12 An inleresiing alternative to 12 .f5, as in Wade-Browne, Hastings 1972/73 Rallier than give White a choice of operations Black challenges bis opponents formidable kn.ghl, forcing either a retreat or a relieving exchange 13 tle3 White w.sely keeps bis piece, consequently retaining the tension 13 Qa5 Black seeks to effectively neutralise Whutes conventional grip ofc4, but ai the cost of granting the first player another outpost 14 Sc2 c4 15 dxc4 4bxc4 16 d1 *c7 Il €d5 *1,8 In reluru for the relinquishing of c4, which now belongs to a black knighl Whne bas command of the d-file and an unchallenged knight on dS Il will also become apparent that While continues to have a mild initiative on both sides of the board, and ilickl 00W steps up the pace 18 tih4 th7 With bis pieces over on the qucenside Black realises that White’s lasi niove did indeed Ibreaten tri shalter bis kingside with Ihe sacrifice eh4xg6 but now the fl-pawn s lefi undefended, and Whiie cleverly uses a timely qucenside expansion to shifi bis queen to the a2-gS diagonal 19 b4 t23c6 20 S’a2 1d6 Not 20 b6’ 21 Gixb6 axb6 22 éxf7 21 b5 22 laS eac4 23 kb4 Black has renewed bis occupation of c4, while White bas managed £0 push bis b-pawn menacingly up the board 23 24 25 26 e1 ixd6 b6(D) Despite the attempis to curtail bis queenside aggression Whate bas nevertheless succeeded in making tremendous progress on that flank Moreover the versatile queen’s knight —which soon found a good home afier being evicled from c4 ‘sready £0 ;ump mb c7, wrnnlng the exchange Thus Black s reduced tri giving up bis useful light-squared bishop leaving yel anolher m,ghty White piece tri oversee on d5 26 ie6 27 *c2 .xd5 28 .&xds *dS 29 c4 *xb6 Black takes the proffered pawn and hopes for the best, a good dccision in view of the threatened push c4-c5 1g4 aS hd6 B ‘l.”tfl1/ C III
Krng s Induin Defence Reversed /47 30 eS *c7 31 acI c8 UnfortunatClY for Black 31 ac8 32 1,l, or 31 ec8 32 *b3 leaves bis posilofl overioaded 32 f4! For the rnvested paWn White basa comnianding position with a powerfui grip on the white squares He now threatens f445 am.ng al the weak g6-pawn 32 15 Preventing the aforemenlioned advance and also removing the fpawn from the fine of fire of White’s bishop, enabling ic8-e7 to be played 33 *c4 Ii ‘sinteresting le look M the movemenls of die white queen thus far Persistent pressure on both the bl-h7 and a2-gS diagonals bas reaped considerabie rewards 33 34 in 35 *e6 4e7 ra6 (D) Black deveiops his rook on his third rank n order to defend Ihe g6-pawn Since Ibis s die pawn which s holding Blacks position togeiher, White manages to remove il by blocking the path of 11w dcfending rook 36 c6! 1c6 37 xc6 bxe6 38 ixg6+ xg6 39 Éxg6+ tus 40 xf5 *17 WiIh lus kingside crumbliTig Black pots lus hopes in a rook and pawn ending 41 *xg7+ 42 Qhg7 43 :‘s 44 flcs! Not 44 axa5 c5 Jnslead White gives himself urne le brin8 bis king over 10 the qucenside, as Black cann°1 defend both bis a- and cpawns simultaneously Whites kingside pawns have remained intact and will be able ‘ohelp cadi olber advance As will be seen Ibis factor gives White a decisive advanlage 44 tf6 45 tf2 te6 46 te3 td6 47 xa5 es Black’s only hope lies in pushrng bis c-pawn. go White firsl monitors die queenside before luming lus attenlions 10 the other wing 48 td3 tds 49 r7 White heads for the weak h-pawn. inviting Black to make his own, less dangerous, invasion 49 :bs 50 tc3 e8 SI d7+! White takes advantage of Ihe fact ihat Ihe black king s obliged b slay with the c-pawn. making a stop en route 10 h7 which forces Black to ose lime tc6 :e3+ a3 tds *xg7 tir w SI 52 53 54 55 h7 td2 xh6+ 15
148 King s Indian Defence Reverse4 The capture of the h-pawn bas opened the door for Wb.te’s pawns to begin the race ‘odie eighth tank 55 ra2+ 56 c3 a3+ 57 b2 axa4 58 h) Prepanng g3-g4. 58 e4 59 g4 f4 60 f6 c4 Or 60 e6 61 g5, when Black has no way of stopping ail three whi(e pawns 61 g5 f2+ 62 c1 d3 63 h8 fl+ 64 >b2 af2+ 65 a3 The while king no longer needs 10 block (tic opposing pawn 65 c4 66 g6! I-O Black went to considerable lengths b nip Whiles queenside play in the bud, failed, and then saw his kingside succumb 10 an attack Weinslein-Westerinen Budapest 1976 I fl ‘7f62 g3 g6 3 1g2 1g7 4 0-0 0-0 5 d3 dS Black chooses a more ambilious continuation than Ibe Symmetrical Variation 6 bd2 eS Apart from Ihe alternative 6 c6 (sec Chapter S), Black bas occasionafly tried 6 d4 in (bis posilion, bol the advance appears son,ewhal illogical as ‘thands over 11w et-square 10 Whites queen’s knight The game llug-Wahls, Bern ZonaI 1990, saw White ,mmcdiately accept Ihe positional ifI with 7 €c4 c5 8 a4 €kIS 9 Qifd2 After 9 c6 10 e4 Black was obliged b play 10 dxe3 (otherwise White bas gained loo much urne), when li fxe3 b6 12 *f3 icé 13 €e4 lefi While much botter 7 e4 ec6 S c3 h6 A common move, simply planning £0 develop 11w queen’s bishop on e6 withoul having 10 be concerned about a future annoylng QM3-g5 9 eI An option worth considering ‘s9 exd5, avoiding fines in which Black plays d5xe4 9 ie6(D) w Black decides b do without e7-e5 Il s a malter of laste whether Black makes the central pawn exchange d5xe4 or allows White to play e4xd5, allhough Ihis game does suggest thal Ihe former plan al leasi offers Black more stability 9 dxe4 occurred in Jansa-Forinios, Athens 1969. when 10 dxe4 .e6 Il *e2 ed7 (intending 12 c4 b5” 13 ee3 M) would have given Black a reasonable game lnsbead Black played (tic less circumspccl Il •a591, resultmg n a good game for White aller 12a4fd8 13*bS’
îcsng Indian Defence Reversed 149 exdS ,&Iso possible is 10 e5 4d7 ii d4 cxd4 12 cxd4 —White has an advantage n the centre and o the kingside but tbis may be offset by Black’S qucenside chances and play on die c-file 10 xd5 Weinstem offers 10 ixds as an i,nprovement yet a move such as Il *c2 leaves While slightly better as Blacks k.ng’s knight s poorly placed on f6 II tb3 b6 12 d4! The idea of e4xd5 followed by d2-b3 and d3-d4 s sfrategtcally desirable for White Black ofien bas to defend the c-pawn w.th b7-b6, thus enhanctng the power of White’s king’s bishop, and either a knight or a bolstered pawn on d4 wilI help White dictate mallers in Hie centre and subsequently the kingside 12 c4 Belter than 12 cxd4’ 13 fxd4 Qxd4 4 xd4 with a superb position for the first player With the game move Black hopes to keep the game bloeked unlil ht can undermine White’s queenside pawns with the advance b6-b5-b4 Although Black s susceptible to an attack on Hie kingside or on die while squares, bis queens bishop s al Hie moment acting as overseer 13 €bd2 c8 13 bS weakens the vS-square, which White can use immediately by playing 14 €k4 and then €c5 Now White makes a ver>’ promising positional exchange sacrifice 14 xe6! Nol 14 xc4 xc3’ 15 bxc3 .axc4, although a sound but cau“005 move s 14 ifl, when White bas only a minuscule edge Without any pawn breaks to open up Hie position for bis major pieces Black must wait to put bis material advantage £0 use Meanwhile White has command of die light squares and a kw weak black pawns to aim at White’s most accurate continuation now is 15 •e2’. threatening 16 *xe6-’- Then, after 15 *d7 lé €3xc4 Black does not have the possibility mentioned in the note b bis next move 15 te2 eS 16 dxe5 b5 Il e4 s also very good for White, whose compensalion for bhe exchange consists ofa pawn, a solid position, white-square control and excellent kingside attacking prospects Howeve,, White chooses a more hazardous follow-ap to his sacrifice 15 exc4!? 6M Westerinen s not a player to shirk complications, but 15 b5 desen ’esconsideration here White couid then persevere in swashbuckling style with 16 4ce5 tixe5 17 exe5 txeS 18 dxes exc3 19 txdX aftd8 20 bxc3, resulting ‘nan ending in which bis Iwo bishops cannol get the better of an active rook 20 dl+ 21 ifl xc3 22 ib2 Lal 23 ixal a3 24 kxb5 w 14 fxe6 (D) .I* 1*11 74*1 t4À4kÀ
150 King Indw.n Defence Revened xa2 25 id4 with equality Cousequently 15 bS 16 e3 s besi when the position s unclear, so White ‘sbetter iiy,ng 15 *e2 as suggested above lb €xd4 xc4 17 4d3! The tempting 17 ‘txe6’permits 17 when White bas no more than a draw 18 exds’ exdl 19 ids+ h8 20 kxc4 xd8 puts Black in the driving seal, but 18 SxdS xd8 19 exd8 te2* 20 ‘f1xcI4 21 xcl xcl draws Tricky s (17 xe6 exc3) 18 *fl Ail of Blacks pieces are aflacked, yet amazingl 18 *c8’ 19 xf8 ‘e2+’20 xe2 xclt 21 axcl *xc I + 22 kfl xf8 s completely drawn 17 The iosing rnove Ii was ImperaÉn e thai Black should keep battiing ‘norder to have any chance of surv,val Once again 17 xc3 suggess itself Play might continue IX ‘txc4làxd4 19 *xe6-*- h7 20 bxc3 *xc3 (20 *xf2-+ 21 h] ixc3 22 ie3’ wins for White) 21 bl ‘1c222 *e4 *xf2-.- 23 hI when Black s much worse but stili in Ihe game Perhaps besl 15 17 xd4 IX cxd4 h7, even Ihough White stands considerably better lB tZe6 €xc3 Now this resource ‘sinsufficient Sinnlarly, IX Zb4 meels w,th 19 *xgô’ td I * 20 afl :f7 21 ixh6i xal 22 ixg7 and Black gels exds fxd8 *e3 I-O does flot have enough material for the queen A wild game, but Ihe iactics afin the positional sacrifice were in White’s favour Du n nh.gton-G utman Kn,mbach 1991 1 tÙf3 tf6 2 g3 gé 3 .tgl tg7 4 O-O O-O S d3 dS 6 bd2 eS 7 e4 42c6 8 c3 dxe4 A logical choice Black immediately clarifies matters ‘nthe centre and can now concentrate on coinpleting his development 9 dxe4 hé (D) Once again Black prefers b use the e6-square as a home for the queen’s bishop. but unhke the prenons game he does flot give Whde the option of playing e4xd5 Olhers a) The plan of b7-b6 followed by .tcs-b7/a6 s also possible, as in Knezev,c-Bertok. Yugoslavia 1977 The game went 9 b6 10 ‘1e2eesll:dI ç7l2ec4 *e813 e3 ia6 14 id c8 15 h4’ with a good gaine for White as Black’s minor pieces on the queenside are sorely missed on the other wing b) In Cuderman-Suvahc, Yngoslavia 1961. Black solved Ihe prob1cm of where to put the queen’s bishop by exchanging it afler 9 .tg4 10 h3 .txt). but Il 4x0 4es 12 *e3 4M’d7 13 f4 eh White with a useful space advantage as well as 0w two bishops w mated 19 20 Black
K;ng s !ndjon Defence Reversed 151 io 1e2 .te6 ii h3 SaS Simple developmeflt, intending £0 brrng a rook 10 dS White wiIl aiempt to keep the queenside and the centre under control and build up pressure on the kingside In practice t s no’ easy for Black 10 keep his pleces ont of (lie way of the match- mg enemy pawns The alternative ii Wb6 would transpose afler 12 eel w Petrosian-Reshevsky, Zunch Candidates 1953, which continued 12 ad8 13 h2 eh7 14 f4 a5 15 ‘eOM7 16 fel *c7 17 en b6 18 e3 Although a draw was agreed a dozen moves later White bas a slight initiative ai this stage Note that White dots best to drop his krnght back to e I when preparing 10 push the f-pawn This is because the weak d3-square must be supported in readness for Black’s occupation of the d-file Ont example of how Whites eagerness to start a kingside atlack can lead to a dangerous neglection of the queenside is (alter li h3) Il *b6 12 Ch4” LdS 13 f4 :d3’, when 14 j’xd3 c4+ wlns for Black From e! the king’s knight also bas access (o (ho often useful c2-square 12 teI ZfdS 13 f4 c4!? (D) z•x••rA j •4ÀI9JRd us An interesiing move typical of GM Gutman Accepting he pawn with 14 ‘txc4is no’ wise in vlew of 14 5a6 15 b3 Ca5 when the pin s uncomfortable Now we see the idea behind II *a5 afler pushing with c5-c4 Black ftjrlher covers his fourth rank Ibis presents White with certain problems if he wishes to throw forward bis krngside pawris before Black generates sufficient counterplay on the queenside 0f course, White may s,mply sottie for central play w,th e4-e5 followed by d2-e4 ami icl-e3, bot such a plan does not put Black under as mach immediate pressure as the more ambittous game choice 14 g4 ac8 15 hI Tucking the king ‘nthe corner. away from any annoying checks from the black qucen 15 g5!? Black reacts £0 the vigorous offensive by positional means Consequently Black will use the eS-square as an outpost fora blockading knight. thus keeping White’s pawn-roller al bay, meanwhile ht hopes 1° take an initiative on 11m queenside 16 IS The white pawns must remain united After 16 fxg5 Black bas an excellent position 16 1d7 17 edf3 e5 lB ed4 In return for relinquishing the ‘ni-ponant es-square White has received a similarly attractive outpost on d4 for bis own knight 18 .kc6 19 ec2(D)
152 King s Indzwt Defence Reversed B White wiII now complete bis development with Sel -d2, perhaps intending 1° gain space on the qucenside with b2-b4 followed by a2-a4 Another idea s (o transfer the queen’s bishop to g3 in order *0 pressurize the e5-knight and thus invite f6-d7, after which White s free 10 play €c2-e3 because bis e-pawn s sufîiciently defended Black also bas to consider White’s playing ec2-b4 at some stage, *hreatening a timey b4xc6, 80 he decides ‘outilise his developmenl advanrage [O cul across Whites plans 19 20 t2hc6 xc6 21 eS?! White seizes the opportunity *0 make Ibis desired central advance, which n tum permits another black knight to observe Ihe weak f4-square Perhaps Ibis is too big price to pay. and White should instead play 21 ed4 or 21 ..e3 (21 xb222b4’) 21 ... €45 22 €àd4 b6 23 e6 kd4 Black judges Ihat iie bas good enough control of the dark squares b enable the exehange of bis king’s bishop for White’s strong knight 24 exf7+ Using the enemy pawn as protection rather than potentially exposing the king, cg 24 xt7 25 cxd4 5f4 26 Sxf4 €3xf4 27 txc4+ 25 cxd4 5f4 26 kxf4 hf4 27 axf4! gxf4 (D) w The exchange sacrifice has kept White in the game, thanks 10 bis tradilionally powerful bishop and bis potenlially troublesome pawns Meanwhile t ‘sn°1 so easy for Black *0 suçcessftilly defend bis c-, e- and f-pawns Nevertlieless White’s compensation should only be sufficient to draw with best play, suggesting thal bis Iwenly-first ,nove was indeed a litIle too ambitions h s important to mention here Ébat bolh sides —particularly White —had JLISÉ a few minutes left in which to reach the time control al move forty 28 e1 d7 29 dS afé After 29 axb2 Wh,le draws with 30 l’eS, threalening 31 *h84- xf7 32 S’h7-1- etc 30 adJ Black continues 10 play safe Now 3 I gS is useless because the black queen defends Ihe h6-pawn, go that 3 I xf3 32 *h3 xg5 s possible 31 *xc4 Wc7 WX•. rAs, rsArj/d t’• 1’ I W I r n.f4
King Indwn Defence Reversed f53 32 i’e2 *d6 33 1.4 White maintains the pressure be ail the winning chances Passive play from Black gives White a free hand, 50 Gutman opas for active fore bis oppOneni manages to fuliy consolidale 33 x1’7 34 g5 hxg5 35 I’hS! Black soddenly finds h,mself on defence 41 c7 42 g2 c2+ 43 f3 rxb2 44 S’xf4 12+ 45 tg4 tg6 the defensive 46 xe7 axaz 35 g8 Not 35 xf5 36 *h8-’- f7 37 êh7-1- when Black must play the 47 e6+ f7 48 g6+ g7 49 i’fS 12+ awful 37 f6 50 e5 b2 36 e1! ‘1f6SI f5 f2+ 37 hxgS *xf5 37 *xb2 runs into 38 f6 52 e5 b2 53 e7+! 38 .ted (D.) Wbile’s d-pawn wiil secure vie- Forcing Black (o simpIi’ mb a rook and pawn ending which s good for Whmte tory The game finmshed 53 xg6 54 c6 g5 55 d6 f4 56 d7 d2 57 f7 bS 58 e8 1,4 59 d8* xdS+ 60 xd8 a5 61 r,4 • •*d/ j À Z Z 4 ,Ø44 1 7O A S SiX P4 • rj rj4 F4 Aflr4Vj jr 38 h7 38 teS 39 ih7+ xh7 40 Éxh7+ xh7 41 xe5 leads £0 the same position as the game continuation 39 éxh7+ txh7+ No139 xf7”4OtxfS+ 40 .xh7+ xh7 41 e5 The srnoke has cleared and the character of the game lias drastically changed Now il is While who has c7 b3 62 c6 a4 63 ab7 I-0 For example. 63 d3 64 b5 a3 65 a4 a2 66 :xb3* d2 67 a3 An excitrng game which feaures the possibilities avaiiable to sides and shouid also serve as warning 10 those players who are prone 10 overplay the kingside advance Classical Variation In the second half of Ibis chapter we look al lypical situations ‘nwhich Black does n°1 fmanchetio bis kings bishop VIadiinirov-Voskanian USSR /977 I ‘I3eS 2 g3 dS 3 g2 Qk6 4 0-O eS S d3 ef6 Black played 5 ge7 in the game P Nmkolac-Raicevmc, Belgrade 1988 Although Ibis is a sound sys1cm for Whibe againsb (ho King’s
154 King s fndwn Vefence Reversed Indian Defence, t dots aol seem ‘obe very good here The game continued 6 Qbd2 ‘?g67 e4 d4 8 a4 .e7 9 c4 0-0 10 h4’ ,g4 II *el à’d7 12 fd2 ih3 13 h5 eh4’, when White ca(n,Iy refuted Blacks play with 14 ..hI’ f5 15 xh4 .xb4 16 ée2 .xfI 17 txfl xf2 18 xf2 fxe4-l- 19 gI e3 20 e4 tf4 21 .g2 af8 22 t2xc5 *c8 23 ‘Vxe3’dxe3 24 kxe3 One idea behind 5 ‘ge7s thal ‘tavo,ds die system which White uses n this game 6 kg5? (D) B An nieresling alternative b 6 ebd2. and a tempo up on a une which Black uses ‘nhie King’s Indian Defence White’s plan is quile simple 10 eliminate the f6-knigbt and light for conirol of die whitc squares, parlicularly d5 and f5 6 Sel 7 4fd2 Also playable s 7 ix ixf6 8 Q3fd2, but 8 49 may cause White unnecessaTy problems 7 0-0 7 €g8 was Vlad,mirov’s own reconimendation after ibis game The idea was tested more recently al international level in Franco-Gomez Esteban, Canete 1994 After 8 ..xe7 egxe7 9 c4 d4 Franco followed Vladimirov’s advice stili furiher and hit the c5-pawn wdh 10 e4” when the forced 10 b6 allowed Whitc to sicer the game into reversed Benko territory Il b4 (D) As a recent Benko convert I like Ibis uncosnpromlslng plan, which puis Black on die defensive afier Il cxb4 l2a3bxa3 3 1a4 0-0 14 i’xa3 b8 15 ebd2, when White had compensation for the pawn S €3c3 ie6 9 e4 dxe4 This simplifing cxchange makes Whiies Iask of dominating d5 easler. so 9 d4 ‘sworih considerahion, afler which 10 e2 ed7 ‘sroughl) equal, but 10 Àxf6 Sxf6 Il d5 s better for While 10 .xf6!? il dxe4 d7 12 td5 .d8 Taking the knight usually he,ghtens Black’s problems in Ibis type ofposition, cg 12 ixdS 13 exd5 eb4 14 t2àe4I with a vey good position for Whitc (14 èxd5° 15 Nxc5 or 15 4xdS hlxds 16xf6+and 175xd5) 13 &c4 b5 14 3ce3(D)
King s Indian Defence Reverse,! 155 It ‘seasy to see (rom the diagram fiai White bas apprec.ated the posit,onal aspects of the ig5 idea much better than his opponent The d5-square ‘sa gaping bote n Black’s haif of fie board, and White even bas good chances of seizing f3 As ‘soften the case Black bas a territorial advantage on the queenside, but White bas such a commanding hold that this wiII flot generate enough compensation for fie second player 14 1$ e) c4 16 a4 White spends a move on keeping Black further al bay 16 a6 I? thS Mcnacingly taking up position near the black king White also wants to take advantage of Blacks awkward developmeni by moving a rook (o (he d-file 17 (6 18 (dl àb7 Black wisely moves bis queen mit of fie inc of fire of the opposrng rook (White threatened 19 €xf6+ and 20 :xd7) With bis next move White seeks 10 cither exchange Blacks good bishop or increase the scope of bis own Whaiever course Black chooses, Whiie wilI accent,,ate bis grip on 6 19 .h3 20 *e2 21 f5 Threatening 22 €3d6 21 22 e1r6+! (D) [t was only a matier ot time unlil White converted bis overwhelming positional advantage into matenal gain or a decisive initiative Black must accept fie sacrifice as 22 h8 23 d7 ‘sfinal White 24 aS! A necessary finesse, as 24 4h6-’- tg7 25 *bS e7 is difficuli to meet 24 25 ‘h6+g7 26 Sh5 ahi 27 if5+ ‘hS28 *h6 gs 29 :d6! Wh.te severs the b6-f6 lifeline (29 ixd6 30 *xf6+ leads to mate nexi move) Consequently Black must part with bis queen 29 ... kf2+ 30 3) tgl xb6 S.g6 .xb6 32 ‘2id6abb8 B I7 ib6 ies (D) 22 23 ad7! 23 *xd7 24 eh6-1 .xd7 xh6 26 xc6 gxf6 b6 g7 25 wrns for
156 King s Industi Defence Reversai combines with a material to produce a won game threat is 34 ‘tf7+’ixf7 mate 33 34 .xg6 35 *h3 36 xa6 37 î’h6 33 .k15! White’s positional supenonty advantage The new 35 *xh7 g7 xg6 aggs g6 (D) Piket-Timman Dutch Chwnp;onsh;p 1996 I 13 cS 2 g3 €c6 3 .g2 f6 4 O-O eS With Ibis order of moves Black avoids a reversed Gninfeld by clamping down on d4 5 d3 dS 6 a3 In the space ofa decade tb8-a6 bas established itself as a fashionable main lino in the KID, soit meras attention with an extra tempo in the KIA Piket s Oie firsi player —al die top level at leasi to use t Knights on the rim are flot aiways dim, and on a3 the knight has access toc4 once the d5-pawn has been cxchanged or advanced, as well as b5 in some cases 6 ebd2 s another standard move If Black wishes to avoid tieing simply a tempo down he can tiy 6 1d6” In die Classical proper White’s bishop s already on e2 when Black plays ebg-d7, so with roles reversed Black now hopes to benefit from beang a move down Moreover, with Ibe knight commitied ‘odZ White can no longer apply pressure io the dS-pawn wilh ‘tbl-c37 e4 puts the question b Oie d5-pawn a) 7 d4 mel with the Iheoretical novelly S h4i9 in YuriaevDokhoian, EuCup Moscow 1990 Black voluntarily weakened a couple of dark squares on the kingside because, being a tempo down, he stiil had the option of castiing long The game continued S g6 9 Qk4 tel lOa4ie6 Il b3Qd7 l2Ah6 *e7 (12 g5 13 €f5 .txf5 14 exf5 tf6 l5*h5) 13.tf3 (D) nsaz* W 94 38 ab6! Ofien the quickest roule to victoiy afler winning a qoeen is to engincer situation in which one can sacrilice t back to force almost mmcdi— ale resignation 38 xh6 39 xb8+ ‘g740 efs+ ‘g641 g8+ I-O 41 f7 42 xh6+ Ieaves White a rook up, and 41 hS allows 42 g4 male The following game provides us with a Laste of the plans available to bolh sides when While elecls b go down Ihe main KID unes with an extra tempo
King s lndwn Defence Reversed 157 Again Black should flot ‘ry10 trap the bishop, eg 13 g5” 14 f3 ..xf5 15 exf5 116 16 kxc6 bxc6 (16 *xc6 17 .xg5) 17 *h5 g8 18 g4 and the plan has backfired Instead Black forced back Ihe bishop with the simple 13 g8 14 .d2 when 14 0-0-0 14 hS”) 15 .g4 ZdfS 16 xe6 xe6 17 ZbI f5 180 ids 19 €\g2 e7 20 *e2 was roughly level (b) 7 dxc4 hands over Ihe valuable d5-square on a plate 8 dxe4 0-0 9 c3 (but White defends d4) 9 ig4 10113 .xf3 II *xf3 e8 12 d1 km 13 c4 *e7 14 kg5 *e6 15 e3 d7 16 eds with an undispuied Iead, TodorcevicMilovanovic, Pula 1990 Reuming 10 111e position afler 6 €a3 (D) 6 ie7 7 e4 d4 Il ‘snatural that Black wishes to close the centre and eliminate the possibility of White using the extra move to advantageously open the position Piket suggests 7 1e619 8 €c4 Remember that the knight could have anived here via d2, cg 6 ebd2 ie7 7 e4 d4 S tc4 8 ic7 Protectmg eS with 8 t1d7 locks ‘nthe c8-bishop and gives the game a slightly different tiavour Aller 9 a4 0-0 the continuation 10 ‘telIl b3 ie6 12 f4 was only equal in Fischer-llan-ow. Miiwankee 1957 Much better s 10 1h3’ *c7 II tfd2, eg Il kg5 12 f4 exf4 13 ‘2M3ih6 14 th4’ 9 a4 ke6 Kecping his options open as far as the whereabouts of the king s con cemed is an important feature of Blacks opening play in 111e these unes Ihere s nothing strategically wrong with 9 0-0, but t does noth mg 10 force White 10 carefully consider the implications of Ihe reversed roles Al least Timman’s choice keeps White on bis loes I suppose t is a malter of taste —Black s either content (0 give away a mon in die weIl charlered unes, or he can tiy b unsettie his opponenl by threatenrng 10 lurn the loss mb something positive, introducing possibilihes which are n°1 normally encountered 10 teI Refore White had wasted rime wibh 10 b3, which perniits Black b expand on the kingside with an early thnist of the g-pawn, e g 10 d7 Il ‘telgS” 12 f4 gxf4 13 gxf4 0-O-0, when the game Todorcevic-Ivanovic, Yugoslavaa B B
158 (Ong s !ndian Defence Reversed 1990, highlighted what Black should be aiming for when lie clears the way b castie queenside. White did n°1 want to sec a series of black pieces use the es-square, but afier 14 f5 .kxc4 15 bxc4 rdgs 16 hl h5 lie was already under pressure. 10 ... td7 White need net be afraid oC lO..,jxc4 Il dxc4 because this frees Ihe usehil d3-square for bis knight, which in tom supports the f2-f4 break. Piket offers the uncomproniising lObs!, which is designed to meet II f4 with the consistent Il ..h4. Consequently bis suggestion of II M!? looks besi, II f4 f6? Unfortunately for Black this does flot work eut according to plan because it perrnits Wbite to punish him for leaving Ihe king in the cenIre with a familiar ICI theme. Atlacking the c4-knight with a second piece is the correct course, e.g. ll.,.eb6 12 b3 (12 tixb6 axb6 13 kd2 s unclear, alhough Black should probably castie short now) l2.,.f6 13 f5 if7 14 h4. If Black did look at this variation t will not have been for too long, as the text k the logical follow-up b the previous FUOVeS. B 12 Àh31 (D) h is possible that Piket deliberately chose this ‘modest’opening in the hope (bat Timman would be too ambitious. Whab is certain is the coming exehange of Black’s good bishop, afier which Whibe will dominate the light squares. If only Black had casbled kingside. 12 ... Skxh3 Piket gives 12..tf7? I) *g4! g6 (l3...ags 14 *xd7-4 txd7 15 txd7+ xd7 16 fxe5 ,xc4 17 exf6 .xf6 18 dxc4 ae8 19 4d3 b6 offers Black some compensation for the pawn) 14 éxd7+ *xd7 15 kxd7+ xd7 16 fxes ixc4 17 exf6. 13 *hS+ 14 àch3 b6 15 fieS! Apart from fixing Blacks pawns White wants £0 open the f-file in order b infiltrate on 17. A mistake is 15 exb6 axb6 16 f’eS €xe5, when Black s ready to assume the advan(age with . ,,*c7-d7, 15 ,.. fieS Forced, which s not good news for Black in view of the doniinating whibe queen. I 5.. .4xe5 k no improvement on the game, e.g. 16 €xe5 fxes (16...txeS 17 .tf4 l’h5 l8S’xhsgxhs l9g2) l7*e61. 16 te6 The queen can travel ibm one side of the board £0 the other as long White continues to dominate the light squares. Suddenly f? looks very vulnerable. 16 ... xc4 17 *xc4! 17 sf74 k tempting but flot quite as good as the text. In fact the check connecls 11m black rooks. After I7...d7 White should play 18 dxc4!, when l8..iafS 19 Sd5+ 1db 20 axfs xfE 21 4jd3
((kg ‘sIndian Defence Reversed 159 folIoWed by Iodging the bishop (» h6 stili keeps White on iop. 17 0-0-0(D) I s pointless because after 18 #f3 0-0-0 19 ..h6 Black must anyway sunender die f-file. 18 kh6? The ?‘ is from Piket himself, who offers die variation 18 O (threatcoing 19 g5 etc.) I8,..h6 19 *e6-I- b8 20 txg6 h5 21 .g5I with a clear advantage. 18 .. dg8! Now the bishop s a liability because Black threatens (o trap t with ...g6-g5. Consequently While at lempts to justi& ils posting, though Ibis does result in him Iosing bis grip on the fl-square, and with it much of bis lead. 19 f7 20 ag7 flxg7 20,. .f8 2 I M is unclear. 1* makes sense for Black to seek cx- changes and head for a slightly worse ending rallier than allow White ‘orekindie an initiative on a second front. 21 tg7 rea 22 f3 .kd6 23 ih6 *47 23...’f7? makes sense, intending b meot 24 1d2 with 24.. .1d7 and 25,,*e6, 24 td2 *xc4 25 xc4 d7 26 f I (D) B Despite lite graduai removal of pieces we sec thal die key features of the opening remain even into the ending. This is just the kind of position White should have in mmd once he lias pushed his f-pawn. fle centre pawns are stili fixed, there is stili only one open file —which White continues to rule —and white knight stands on c4. In order 10 make these pluses telI White must keep focused, as must Black, of course. 26 ... e6 27 h4 The obvious 27 f7+ :e7 28 xe7+ ‘xe729 €a5 wins a safe pawn, e.g. 29.1,6 30 c6 f6 31 Qha7 gS 32 h4 gxh4 33 gxh4 g6 34 id2 ‘h535 tel. 27 ... kc7 28 h5 e7 28...gxh5 29 f5 leaves Black with weaknesses on eS, h5 and h7. 29 g2 1,6 r” fi n,
160 Krng lndw.n Defence Reversed 30 hxg6 hxg6 31 1d2 a6 Pikel gves 3 I h8 32 b4 id6 By now both players were short of urne, whicli ‘sevident from 11w rest ofthe game 32 1,4 3) ahI? 33 bxc5 txc5 (33 bxc5 34 hl) 34 ig5 d7 35 f7+ ‘c836 re7 (36 tf6) 36 xa4 37 ixe5 ixes 38 xe5 b7 39 e7+ a8 40 if6 s promising for White, as ‘s33 33 bS 34 h7+ 35 axb5 axb5 36 eb2 a8? 36 .kd6” 37 bxc5 4xc5 38 dl (38 a7c8) 38 a8 37 dI a2? 37 id6 38 €ff2 M8 39 b7 cxb4 40 xb5 ç8 41 ab6 e7 42 txb4 lxb4 43 xb4 axc2 38 tzf 39 tg4+ 40 e7 40 a6 41 and 40 ‘*€xe5* don’t help 4) xe6+ 41 h5 42 h3 h6, or 41 f7 42 42 re7+ F8 43 xc7 44 Ii3 and Black resigned in view of 44 ‘h3xd3 (44 cxb4 45 exe5) 45 xc5 1-O Botvirniik-Pomar Varna Olvmp,ad 1962 I g3 dS 2 fl eS 3 ig2 d 4 d3 eS 5 0-0 (D) 5 1d6 Aiinrng for a kind of reversed Samisch variation Lazic-Raicevic, Yugoslav Ch 1991, followed a similar course with 5 f6 The game continued 6 e4 (also possible is 6 c4 d4 7 e3 with a reversed Renom) 6 Qge7 7 c3 te6 8 eh4 d4 9 e2 g5’’ 10 efs’’ xf5 Il exfS .kd5” (accepling Ihe pawn with II lxf5 was better, when White wiIl tTy to open up the position) 12 ixdS *xd5 13 g4 h5i 14 gxh5 rxbs 15 f4 exf4 16 *xh5+ d7 (for bis sacrificed exchange Black bas a slight bind and a poiciltial kingside attack) 17 *b7-1- lei 18 rel f8 19 e4’ €3e5 20 g2 tf7 21 1d2 h8 22 *g7 *xf5 23 Zxe7-4-’ (nol 23 *xfl” S’b3+ 24 gl txh2-4- 25 ‘fl*h14- 26 e2 f3 mate) 23 xe7 24 el (flOw Ilie white king bas an escape route) 24 d8 25 xfl *h34 26 gI *xh2+ 27 tfl *b3+ 28 e2 e8+29dl *f3*3O’cl xeI4 31 ixel *c6 32 M’ (White must open up the position for bis b,sliop) 32 b6 33 txa7 *e6 34 .d2 C4 35 dxç4 ‘xc436 *xb6’- and White won B gS g6 xc2 bxç5 rcô 42 jaS’ 4! xç2 42 ‘g7with mate on f6+ e7 43 6 e4 7 ‘3bd2d4 €ge7 8 c4
Kzngs Indian Defence Reversed 161 WhiIe wants te close Ihe centre before advanclflg on the kings.de Bad for Black would be 8 dxc3 9 bxc3 with an active position for White In the game AnIc-GuigoTns, French League 1991, White adopted another plan 8 ec4 ic7 9 a4 h6 10 c3 gS Il cxd4 cxd4 12 420e1 ie6 13 b3 ‘1d714 .ta3 O-015M wgh ad va otage 8 F6 9 4Mi4 10 f4 II gxf4 12 eS! (D) White sacrifices a pawn for powerful oulpost on e4 and a positional bind As for Black, bis extra pawn on e5 merely deprrves h,m of a usefiul square for his pieces 12 13 F5 14 e4 15 Ég4! Threatcning an unpleasani discovered check with l6f6-t- 15 b8 lé *xg7 II ‘s001 at ail dangerous for White 10 open (lie g-file in froni of his king, since Blaçk’s pieces are 10° badly placed 1° undertake active operations Indeed il s White who will auack on the kingside 16 .h5 17 f2 Preventing 17 te2 17 18 d2 19 4f6 20 g6! Cleverly forcing a blocking ofthe g-file 20 21 fxg6 22 ffl 23 tÎS 24 W 25 h3 txg6 ie7 44g 1h4 e7 ex g6 (D) Having fulfilled ils job as overscer, White’s knight now clears the path for the king’s bishop, cuminates Blacks bishop ami facilitates the Invasion of the rooks mb Blacks position -ail in one siroke 26 Cr6! txf6 27 xf6 •e7 28 lafI Cf4 29 a6f4! exF4 30 ixf4+ I-O 30 .ta8 31 8c8 mate hé dgS €3c8 e6 exf4 *c7 B AÀ*4** •jj P4 4*064 w lieS 1*7 o-0-o
162 tUA Other Black Defences 8 Other Black Defences Here too, the reader must be on the lookout for similarities w.th —and transpositional possibilities to other Imes When White opens the gaine with I ef3, 2 g3 and 3 .g2 Black can give die game Queen’s Indian flavour with b7-b6 and Àc$-b7 Combine this with an early e7-e6 and d7-dS and we could eventually amve al a French Defence position The same can be said of I fl f6 2 g) b5” The other games in this chapter deal with hybrid positions which are only rarely encountered Benke-Bisg oie, Stockholm !nterzonal 1962 I Zd3 er6 2 g) dS 3 Àg2 c6 4 O-O ie7 S dl 04 6 bd2 b6 7 e4 (D) B 7 .ab7 Making the centra’ exchange witb d5xe4 can also be played in Queen’s [ndian positions Ii lias the advantage of increasing the scope of Black’s queens bishop and —in die event of e4-eS from Wbite —secunng a usefôl outpost on dS for the king’s knight 1-lowever, Whites space advantage usually allows hrni freer movement of bis pieces and thus cases the task of attacking the black long 7 dxe4 S dxe4 .b7 transposes to Rogers-Dutreeuw, Non Sad Olympiad 1990 The game continued 9 eS tlid5 10 a3 (Black would stand bette, afrer 10 et’ M, but 00w White s indeed threatening to hit the knight —hence Black’s next) 10 bS Ii e2 ‘1d712 e4 ZeS 13 gS .fR (instead of sunendering bis darksquared bishop Black prefers ‘ouse iras a defender) 14 Qk14 a6 15 Wg4 c5 16 ef3 *c7 17 LdI edl 18 afe I (completing his developmenl and indirectly defending the epawn. as 18 t1xeS’ 19 €xe5 *xe5 20 €3xc5 ‘1c721 4xb7 *xb7 gives Black problems down the hI-aS diagonal) IX e4 19 :d4’ (this allows Black to play 19 xe5 20 Qxe5 éxeS. eg 2! %+ xf6, or 21 xd5 exd5’ 22 ef6+ *xfô’ 23 ixtb LceI+) 19 c3’ 20 b3 a5 (now Wbite gets a second chance)
KIA Other Black Defences 163 21 ef6 Çjlxf6 22 exfô Zad8 23 fxg7 e7 (Black hopes to use the enemy pawn as a shield for bis king, but Whites queens rook ‘stoo slrong) 24 *1,3 ‘2f625 f4 eS 26 .Rxf6 ics 27 *h5 exf4 28 egs I-o 8 €5 fd7 9 €i e8 Black should play 9 eS followed by eb8-c6 rather than concentrate on defensive measures al sueh an early stage of the game 10 ‘f1f8 bd7 €5 1.6 (D) The position aller 13 h6 greatly resembles KM vs Prench Defence gaines An important diflerence ‘sBlacks lack of pressure on the queenside. whereas White has bis usual prospects ofa kingside attack 14 4Ng4 h7 15 fl.2! Aiming 1° keep Blacks pieces from the gS-square with f2-f4 15 16 14 b8 Al last Black begrns to play on the qucenside but Ihere are flot enough pieces w,th wh,çh 10 cause White problem s 17 d2 bS 18 f2 d4?! Very often ‘nsueh positions ‘tcan be suicidai for Black to give his opponent full control ofihe M-square This game ‘sno exception More consistent is 18 aS with a vlew to rolling the queenside pawns down the board, although White would stili retain quite an advantage 19 .&xb7 b7 20 *13 d7 21 .4! (D) While strikes while Blacks queenside s berefi of support Black now bas to choose between 21 a6 22 axb5 axb5 when the openrng of the queenside favours White, or the game move 21 1,4 22 b3 Aller tins move il is the k,ngside which wiIl become the main bailleground, so both sides sel about regrouping their forces 10 maximum effeci White prepares to pounce. Black must do bis besl lobe ready 22 :ds 23 Ze2 24 ae1 4b6 25 e4 d7 26 *g4 d5 27 fl ifS li 1.4 12 1h2 13 liS i tE_t. P SU! lIA p, •Af? A4 flic I B w S ‘kFAIÀLS4 ma n
164 SCIA Other Black Defences *b6 (D) 44 teS! Clever moves such as this make winning Dut much casier Now 44 *xes loses Oie queen 10 45 âf7÷ h8 46 *xf8+ g8 47 2M7+ Instead, Black waits for lis opponeni ‘oshow bon the win 44 te8 45 ixf6 Or 45 *xgb 46 hxg6 gxf6 47 te6, when Black’s king ‘sembatleaving White As a result of Oie shadow-boxing Black’s kn,ght bas journeyed from I o d5 and bas subsequently been replaced by the bishop n tun, clearing the second rank for (lie rook White who has had a strategically won game s’nce move nineleen —has made ocher gains, and his next mon threalens a winning breakthrough wdh f4-f5 29 tIh4! 15 Creating weaknesses, but Black had aile choice 30 exf6 2hf6 31 xf6+ 32 *g6 *bS 33 feI adel 34 f5! exfS Net 34 eS 35 .txh6 35 xe7 xe7 36 xe7 ixe7 37 xf5 White bas kept his winning advantage even afier the exchanges The game concluded 37 1m 38 4h6+ ‘h839 Qjf7+ g8 40 .f4! •1J7 41 h6+ h8 42 4M7+ ‘g843 g5! te7 rassingly trapped, free to win at will 46 g2 47 ‘h348 th4 49 eh3 As 011e way oC playrng die KIA involves developing Ihe kingside pleces before disclosing one’s mien- lions and embarking on a specific slnctural stralegy, Black, too, ‘sfret b open in a number oC ways Spoili for choice, Black occasionally goes ‘00sol,d Dam lj an ovlc-Cvetkovlc Yugoslov Ch 1991 I g3 d5 2 1g2 ef6 3 d3 g 4 I3 .g7 5 0-0 0-0 6 c3 c6 (D) w 28 fl •rnnr4 rjs ‘s?4,/*,4fl •L *e2+ *11 + *hI+ I-0 nia 2*111 ails mn• *• wI•À•. • flAfl Afl Afli!! nrj4 Perhaps tins setup ‘ssoinewhat too conservative as While can freely
KM OtherBlackDefences 165 19 I’d6 20 *c4 4M8 21 adI ±e622 S’cs! *bS! Exehanging queens dots not aileviate Black’s problems 23 *c2 Black eliminates a polentially troublesome piece and makes way for his other knight to corne to e6 and observe d4 24 *‘xI,3 ee6 25 ixbs! Rlack was threalening to jump mb d4 Now, n retum for bis kmg’s bishop, White will have the dS-square for bis rook, attackrng Blacks weak pawns 25 cxb5 26 d5 •c7 27 c1 *e7 28 lieS White chooses to take the e-pawn as die b-pawn wiIl be Oie more difficuit (o defend 28 29 xeS 30 g2 31 xe8 32 4d3! NoI good s 32 xb5 c3 33 *dl xf3 34 txfl *xfl+ 35 xf3 d4+ and 36 exb5 32 c4 33 xbS!? tc3 34 €5! (D) expand on the queenside More acb ive ‘s6 cS which transposes to Oie KingS Indian Defence with colours reversed Another possibility ‘s6 e6 followed by e7-e5 7 ‘bd2ebd7 8 1,4! Gaining space on Ihe qucenside and depnvlng Black of (ht c5-square 8 e5 9 e4 dxe4 10 dxe4 aS II c2 12 a4 aes 13 e1 14 tèb3! In symmetricai positions White can often utilise the extra tempo b lake ihe Initiative In ibis case White’s pawn on M (as opposed b ils counterpart on b7) s significant enough 10 give him the bener game 14 axb4 15 aS! ec4 16 cxh4 496 17 b2 b5 18 h3!(D) B W,tI, Black’s queens knight attacking the d4-square Wh,te does 1101 wanl to ailow icg-84xf3 la 19 .f1 Threatening to win a piece with tes 4(6 Lc8 xc8 B iAr gdg iri,*Jtd
166 KIA OtherBlackDefences 34 ... Wxf3+ 35 ÉxO xf3 36 xf3 €3d4+ 37 e4 ebs 38 i’dS ‘f839 ‘c5ec7 40 d6 ebs+ 41 c5 c7 42 d6 Black can draw afier 42 Sb6’ 1M5+ 43 ‘xb7xb4 44 aé xa6 45 xa6 e7 because White’s king s too far away from bis pawns 42 43 d7! While finds the correct continual’on, heading for the b-pawn while simoltaneously cuuing off Blacks king 43 44 c7 bS b6 a6 Pet rosian-Don ne r San&sMon,ca 1966 6 4bd2 7 .4 White can profil from tins ambittous daim 10 the centre, so betier s 7 dxe4, or mainlaining the tension with 7 Qibc6 (7 c6 transposes to the Caro-Kann Defence) Instead Botv,nnik-Pachman, Leipzig Olympiad 1960. wenl 7 d4 R a4 f6 9 h4 ie6lOf4 d7 lit! f7 12 ficg6 hxg6 13 1h3 with a clear advantage to White S exd5 9 tb3 Rather than play the normaI 9 c4 ec6 White punishes his opponenl’s move order by altackrng the c-pawn 9 9 16 ‘sn°1 possible as il opens Ihe long hi -a8 diagonal, which Black sets about clearing 10 :€i b8 ed4 Il €‘iFdZ! ‘c712 tia5! e6 Qa3 Black’s ntended 12 1,6 loses to e7 I3k6 I-0 13 ac4 •c7 WhiIe s better afler 13 b6 14 ‘èd6ka6 15 a4, meeting 15 à’c7 with l64b5 14 e4 (D) I ‘fld5 2 g) g6 3 1g2 kg7 4 0-O eS 5 d3 €e7 (D) 34 id I transposes b tue previous note White’s chozce vacates e4, Ihus assisting the king on its journey 10 the qucenside 0-0 eS?! 45 46 47 w B pin4 z.. %Ât8Vj/Â*À erArr ‘tutPachman’s variation 14 b6
KM OtI,er Black Defencea 167 Agaifl 14 b6 i5eed6ka6 16a4 is goal for White (as ‘nthe last note) Black does bave an active plan in 14 b5 15 cd6 ..a6 16 a4 f5, but 17 axb5 fxe4 18 :xa6’ is cnishing This leaves 16 M with a shght edge for White thanks to the ç 4-square 1$ c3 Threatenlflg a fiflure c3-b5 and watching over d5 15 1d7 16 a4 ic6 Tempting White into what he anyway .ntended, and thus effectively Iosing a tempo 16 1d4 or 16 fd8 are less compromising 17 4b5 lxbS 18 axbS xc4 19 dxc4 1,6 (D) w On studying the diagram position we see that White bas reaped 5cv- eral benefits from bis imaginative kn,hi manoeuvres Blacks a-pawn s a chronic weakness againsi which Petrosian cari build up pressure aL wtll Whites king’s bishop ‘sexcellently placed, and the absence of as black countei-part accentuates tlie domination of die white squares —notably the ong diagonal 20 c3 feS 2) a6 e7 Black gets ready b defend his a-pawn 22 àa4 23 ids! *b8 0r23 d824gg5d725.c6 when Black’s position ‘sover-loaded 24 &.xe6! Now Black wilI either lose his r pawn or bave to spoil his pawn structure Against a positional player of Petrosian’s calibre perhaps the former ‘sthe lesser cvii, but Donner ‘sin matenal mood 24 fxc6 25 édI! d8 26 4g4 White bas more than one target b aim ai 26 ee8 27 h4! :d7 28 hS gxb5 29 txh5 30 •g4 :f6 Petrosian suggested 30 fs folIowed by h7-hZ 31 1e3 g6 32 *e4 g18 33 :i The queen’s rook lias no fiirihet role (o play on Lite a-file 33 1d6 34 ed1 gg7 35 d2 ifs 36 xd7 xd7 37 *g4+ 38 à’1i3 f6 Otherw,se Black oses a pawn Now 39 àbs is the most accorait continuation, threaienrng 40 kg5+ and4l .th6-i- 39 f1 *4 40 *h4+ ‘g741 ih6+ g8 42 kilS Without bis bishop Black wiIl have problems defendmg die e5-pawn Recaptunng with Lite queen does not help, e g 42 *xf8
168 KM OtherBiackOefences SI *a8+ ç7 52 e-pawn with B a)3...g640-Okg7Sd3O-06c4 (D) 43 *g4t ‘Î144 *b5+ ‘f645 42 43 ad *17 44 xe5 *g6 45 g2! *f7 46 e4I Apart from being a pawn down, Black bas other weak pawns and no shelter for bis king The game tin,shed 46 e8 47 f4 *e7 48 *115+ d8 49 *e5 c8 While threalened 50 *b8 mate 50 *c4 Th rea ten ng *xa7* 50 b8 SI h4 *f7 To defend 11m d7-e7 52 f4 *e7 53 *f3 *d6 54 f8+ tds If 54 c7 55 *a8 wins 55 f6 Black resigned as 55 d7 56 *e4 e7 (the e-pawn must be defcnded) 57 f8- c7 58 *a8 Ieads tomate 1-O IIIIlsrp Persson-Hector Gothenberg /997 I 1if3 Another uncompromising reply 10 White’s opening move s I 5’ which invites a direct transposition to the Dutch Defence afier d2-d4 There ‘salso 2 e4i9, although you can guaraniee Ihat Black w,ll be weli prepared for Ibis Fortunateiy for KIA fans 11m fianchetto s possibic here, 10° 2 g3 f6 3 i82 and now II s lime for Black 1° select lite variation White exploits the opening of die a2-g8 diagonal resuiting from I f5 The poini s thai Ihe preparatory ZZbl-d2 s flot necessary because the e-pawn is immune —6 fxe4 7 dxe4 43xe4’ 8 *dSt etc Coose quenily Whiie both saves a tempo and affords himsclf more tlexibility in terms of queenside developinent 6 d6 with aI) 7 c3 fxe4 (7 ec6 8 cxf5 ixfS 9 d4 eb4 10 el c6 Il e5 12 c3 was even in RashkovskyBareev, Moscow 1989) 8 dxe4 eS 9 h3 bd7 10 e3 Barczay-Zso Polgar, Ltllafured 1989, the gaule S balanced a2) 7 c3 ec6 8 exf5 gxI5 (8 ixfs 9 4b34- picks up the b7-pawn) 9 *b3+ e6, e g 10 e1 h6 Il 3a3 h7 12 *a4 id7 13 *h4 eS witli an interesting posilion, Martifl-Karolyi, Oakham 1993 b) 3 eô 4 0-0 ke7 5 d3 0-0 6 ebd2 d6 7 e4 fxe4 8 dxe4 eS 9 c3 *c8 s pretiy standard stuif Vaisser-Ochoa, Palma de Mallorca 1989, contirnied 10 ‘2h41c6 II ec4 àIiS 12 ‘xh5exhz 13 fs’ M8 I4a4’f6 I5fe3Se6 16M (D)
KM Offier Black Defences 169 In 0w Pire proper Black bas excellent prospects ‘ooutplay bis opponent in the quiet unes and to gain dangerous counler-altacking chances in the aggress.ve ones Here White’s extra tempo cornes in handy in both the positionai and tactical variations Noie that the dia- gram can aise arise afier I f3 d5 2 g3 c6’ 3 ig2 eS 4 15 As ‘sofien the case when die roles are reversed, Black reacts 10 a modest opening with a particularly ambitions vanation ilere are a kw examples of what van happen a)4 ig45h3ihS6O-0f5” s a similar attempt to iaunch an early offensive Passive play from White is exactly what Black ‘shoping for, so ‘t‘simperative that White strikes quickiy while bis development lead stili malters In AnderssonRomanishin, Cienfiiegos 1977, White provided model play —7c4’ M 8 £èh4 dxc4 9 xfS cxd3 10 g4 1g6 and now il ixe4 would bave left While well on top b) 4 .ke7 usually Ieads 10 ‘c’,but here Black sou has plans for bis fpawn 5 0-0 1e6 6 c3 f5, NorwoodSherzer, Prestwich 1990. went 7 a4 (7 e4i9 dxe4 8 dxe4 *xdl 9 e5 ZxdI fxe4 10 OEI2 is interesting) d5 7 *d7Sb4e49b5exf3 lObxc6 ‘kxc6Il âxc64 bxc6 12 1x8 with an edge 10 White in die qucenless middlegame thanks £0 his superlor pawn structure, upon winch Ihe next phase of the game concentrated 12 €f6 l3d2b8 14t?\b3c5 15 1e3 ed7 16 c4” d4 17 1f4 1d6, when 18 1,46 cxd6 19 fbI was necessary y) 4 f6 15 the reliable, sober option 5 0-0 te7 6 c3 and now cl) 6 0-0 7 bd2 aes S àc2 1e6 9 M Qd7 10 b5 a5 I b3’ B The pawn structure ‘stypical for tins variation. with the e4-pawn playing an important role Witlioul any effective pawn breaks available White stands slightly belter thanks to bis advanced, mobile queenside pawns Although the KJA senip does net exaclly scare Black, t does have Oie bonus of steenng the game away from Oie traditional Dutch positions winch sec Black obtainang counterplay by concentrating on the vulnerable e4-square (aller d2-d4) By choosing to erect a centre based on d3 and e4 (instead ofc4 and d4) White gives bis opponent less £0 bite on in return for a little Iess Z g3 Keeping a KIA flavour 2 e4 and 2 d4 are more direct d3 4 1g2 (D) ALt PILLA J. tF4Afl flt. rA S pa e e 2 3 B
f70 KM Other Black Defences eS (Il exb3’’ 12 cxb3 opens the a-file for White as weIl as helping him prise open the g2-a8 diagonal with c3-c4) 12 Qxa5 *xa5 13 c4 witb the botter game for White, Dzindzichashvili-Kortchno,, Tilburg 1985 c2) 6 aS As a mIe t s better to preven queenside expansion 7 Qbd2 0-0 8 M with a further branch c21) 8 dxe4 9 dxe4 kcs 10 *c2 .te6 II g5 1g4 12 4k4 h6 13 ef3 d7 14 ‘3e31e6 15 d1 (D) B Busy work from the knights bas given White control of d5 and f5, Beim-Lengyel Budapest CM 1994 c22) 8 e8 maintains the tension n the centre Beim-Kiovans, Groningen 1991, cont’nued 9 *c2 kf8 10 b3 b6 II exd5 Nxd5 12 leI kbl 13 a3 f614 1b2 *d7 15 :adl adS 16 M (finally) 16 axb4 I? axM *17 18 bS a5 19 t2c4$9 Za8’ (19 xc4’ 20 dxc4 4ie7 21 €xe5 etc) Blacks play here is worth remembering Returning to 4 6, White does best to prepare the most active counter For once e2-e4 is flot really appropriate, but as a strike al Blacks broad centre is clearly the correct rompe (othenvise Black has loo much space), we are happy ‘ogive the c-pawn a ((y for a change 5 0-0 €s6 6 c4! dxc4 Now Wb,te needs to spend time regarning the pawn, enablrng Black to continue bis development 6 d4. on the other hand, gives White the opportunity to capitalize on bis extra move (e g 7 e3) 7 *a4 id6 7 cxd3 8 exes S *xc4 *e7 9 Zk3!? A new move, improving on one of Hector’s games from (en years earlier In Bjarnason-Hector, Gausdal zt 1987, White wasted too much time with his queen 9 a3 te6 10 *‘c2a5 11b3e4” l2fd24id4 13 édi a4 14 bxa4 exd3 15 exd3 O-0 16 1b2 tes with compensation for the pawn 9 1e6 10 *1,5(D) By disputing the centre White bas been able to eut a path through to bis opponents weak point on b7 In fact White’s influence on the hi -a8 diagonal is enough to d,ssuade Black from defending, e g 10 b8 Il 4xe5, or 10 0-0-0 Il
KM OsherBiackDefences 111 However, qufenS taking pawns on b2/b7 tend to suifer some degree of harassmeflt for their ‘greed’,which ‘ssomething both sides need £0 cons,der now 10 0-0 II *xb7 While acccpts die challenge See a pawn, grab a pawn ‘sflot aiways the besi policy, but Hillarp Persson s happy 10 soak up a bit ofpunishment ‘nretum for even a modeM matenal gain 0f course White bas cheçked that the queen bas a route back to safety, and that Black will flot obtain more than a pawn’s worth of compensation Il b4 12 flS ab8 13 ta4 h6 Only by restricling his opponent’s forces to their own haif of the board cap Black hope to generate sufficient activity 14 id2 td7 15 *di (D) B lie excursion over White’s queen remms £0 base There ‘sno doubi that Black bas play for the pawn whether il ‘senougb s another malter The pawns on eS and f5 look impressive but in order £0 step up a gear Black must commit himself Perhaps die most important feature of the diagram position is Wh,te’s perfectly sound pawn structure Thanks to ihe minimum number of pawn moves there are no weaknesses in the white camp, and the only way to damage the ideal Dragon formation is w.th vigorous play —something which cornes easy 10 lIector 15 *e8 For the moment die M-square seems like the most inviting point of entTy, which requires sending the queen to h5 (from where h2 also cornes under file) White’s next anticipates Ibis 16 e1 M!? Much befler than 16 f4 I? ‘e4or 16 th5 17 e3’ 17 diM fxc4 18 te3 êhs Already a pawn down, Black s obviously flot worned about throwing more fuel on die lire if t means creaiing inroads into Whue’s krngs.de 19 #he4 g4 20 1.4 Not 20 M3’ :xf3 —one of the points belond opening the f-file 20 exei 21 fxe3 axfl+ 22 xf1 22 ixfl” SeS 22 *17+ Ideally Black does n°1 want 10 put bis queen on the a2-gS diagonal while Whites bisbop s jusi a step away from d3, but die texi defends die d7-bishop so that Ihe other s free £0 move The rest of the game Ilustrates how White can adapt to a new situation afta an assault againsi his kingside fianchetto 23 gI ies 24 a3! d5 (D)
172 NIA Other Black Defences White bas six pawns 10 Black’s four, but bis extra pawns are ‘solatedand doubled, and both b2 and e3 are under attack Time to unravel 25 ed3! 25 fl ixb2 26 eg5 does flot work, as 26 hxg5 27 xg5 Qxe3 28 àxf7 xdI 29 :xdl nins 1Mo 29 ka4t 25 26 Nol xg2 Nxe3 26 xc3!? 26 xb2 27 g5 hxg5 28 ixd5 .e6 29 ixe6 éxe6 30 *d8+ h7 3 I *xg5 s ver> good for White The e-pawns form a defensive sheId for the king, which ‘s.nuch safer ihan Black’s Note that 3 I xe2 simply Ioses the rook to 32 *h5-i 27 td4! Whte bas everything worked oui 27 28 *xa7 :b2 29 f1 29 *e7 30 t’eS (30 *xc7”) 30 *xc5+ 31 xc5 1g4 32 ids+ and 29 *e8 30 txcl e3 3 I Se) axe2 32 .kf3 xf I 33 *c4+’ are botli difficuit for Black, wh,ie the texi ‘seven worse 30 t’a8+ 30 5c5” 30 b7 31 t?g5+! hxg5 32 ie4+ g6 33 *I White misses the more accurate 33 id5’ Sd4t 34 h2 ifs (34 ie 35 î’xeR xd5 36 f7-1) 35 xfS gxf5 36 5g8+ h6 37 hxg5* ‘h538 1f3+ 33 ifs 33 *d4-i- 34 ‘h21e6 35 *e7I- 1g7 36 ixg6t’ xg6 37 Sxe6l- h5 38 g4t xh4 39 f3 and again 4 s the black king which su fît r s 34 xf5 bI+ 35 h2 Typical Hedor But White’s bishop wiII flot be denied the star nng role 36 .txhl gxfs 37 Wxfs+ g7 38 *xgs+ fS 39 *d8+ g7 40 t’el+ 41 SgS+ t(B 42 t’f6+ ‘g$43 h3! *xe2 44 ids+ h7 45*f7+th646*m+ l-O Bilek-TaI Movcow 1967 I €f3 ef6 2 g3 bS!? (D) If this seems b,zan-e t s worth mentioning Ihat Spassky was adventorons enough to play ‘taga,nst w 26 thI’ 28 xg2 Zxe3 27 xb2 or 26 tbl w p * tÂtAis •1J.E
KM Other Black Defences 173 Petrosian in their 1966 World ChampIOflShiP match’ Petrosian 1m- mediately stnick on the queenside with 3 aI, bot aller 3 M 4 d3 .kb7 s e4 d6 6 5g2 bd7 7 0-0 e6 S as b8 9 ebd2 5e7 10 €k4 0-0 lI el a6 12 Sf4 5a8 13 *e2’ e8t Black had abc upper hand AIthough 13 eS improves. g seems belter to keep a2-a4 in resen/e 3 ig2 ib7 4 0-0 e6 5 d3 A direct course ‘s5 c3 c5 6 1b3”, when 6 W’bG keeps White’s edge (o a minimum, while 6 5c6 s doubtfal becaose of 7 d3 d6 8 ig5 ie7 9 Qfd2’ ixg2 10 ‘xg2a6 Il ixf6’ ix 12 a4 with advanlage to Wh,te, GutmanGninfeld, lsrael 1985 dS ibd2 5e7 e4 0-0 dxe4 8 €g5 favours Wbite *e2 cS aei ‘c67 7 s 9 10 c3 The reader may notice and by 00w will flot be surprised —that il s possible for While to transpose (o a French Defence inc here with 10 eS However, Bilek prefers 10 Ufl ish Black’s provocahve move order, planning rn use Ihe fS-square and the e-file 10 .5 Il exd5 exd5 12 d4 *1,6 13 dxc5 ixcS 14 €b3 afes 15 *c2 d4 Opening the long diagonal for bis favoorite bishop. and avoiding 15 f8 165e3 16 *fS! xeI+ 17 xeI ra lB f3? Wh,te follows Black’s Iead and enlers into complications, effectively playing into Tais hands However, 18 Sf4 ensures the sale capture of abc black d-pawn 18 ... 5d6 19 ig5 ‘e420 aci e7(D) 21 ixe7 EqoalLy manie ‘s21 axe4 €xf5 22 xe8 ItB 23 e5, hopmg for the remarkable variation 23 *e7 24 ix1,7 *xb7 25 ec5 1d5 26 cd7 h6 27 xfS hxg5 28 Qg6+ h7 29 b8t Unfortunately for White, 24 ed6 holds Black’s posi— bon together 21 g6! 22 *h3 dxc3! The wlnning move Afin mass exchanges this pawn would decide, eg 23 ixd6 *xf2+ 24 hl *xei+ 25 xel f2+ 26 gi €xh3t 27 S’f1 Sxg2+ 28 ‘txg2cxb229d2 d8’ 23 xe4 cxb2! Not 23 ixe4 24 g5 24 rel rxe7 25 b1 a4 26 tùbd4 1x13 27 tEixfl e2 28 fl 29 $cS+ ?g7 w • rAI•*• •s.• kfl *IIIIJ in s 6
174 1(14 Other Black Defen ces 30 4c3+ o-l f6 An important lesson wilh which 10 end! While was Ihrown off balance by bis opponents second move and subsequently let himself geL drawn mb a web of taches. Preferable is 5 c3, menIionei above, or al any rate a more Ievel-headed approach than Dileks, Transposition mb the French Defence variation is also a good idea, and in my opinion Ihe besi, since we are then back onto familiar ground.
Index ofGames 175 Index of Games Anand-Matafliuk 102 aalasliov-Tisdall 98 BeIkhodja-CVOUCh 83 Benko-BiSgUîer 162 BiIek-Tal 172 Biyiasis-Vasiukov 106 Botvînnik-Pomar 160 Botvinnik-Szilagyi 126 Ciocaltea-lljin 26 Damljanovic-Cvetkovic 164 Damljanovic-C.Hansen I? Dolmatov-Lautier 78 Dunninglon-Gutman 150 Dvoretsky-Vulfson 22 Fischer-UGeIIer g Fischer-Ibrahîmoglu 96 Fiseher-Miagmasuren 42 Gelman-Lastjn 89 Glek-Granda Ztrniga 66 Cuiman-Lejnov 137 G.Hernandez-R,Espinoza 141 flickl-Lev 144 llillarp Persson-Heetor 168 Kodgson-Seirawan 48 Jansa-Keene 112 Konstantinopolsky-Banas 50 Korchnoi-Fjear 108 Lazic-Djzdar II S Loginov-MadI 18 Ljubojevic-Karpov 100 Mortensen-UNielsen 72 Pelrosian-Donner 166 Piket-Timman 156 PoIugayevsky-Addi0 130 Psakhis-Erdelyi 20 Psakhls-D.paunovjc 45 Psakhis-Smjrjn SmysIov-Bo(vjflflk 14 SrnysIov-Miles 139 SPIridonovSImkovich 110
176 Index ofGwnes Slein-Ho.1 94 SIeînert-CvIau, 10 Troianska-Jovanovic 53 Vaganian-Adams 12 Vaganian-Sveshnikov 135 Vaganian-Tone 121 Vladimirov-Voskanian 153 Vukic-Buljovic 133 Weinstein-Westerinen 148 Wojlkiewicz-Bronstein 87 Yudasin-Jukiç 31 Yudasn-Luther 76 Yurtaev-Oulko 33